Parents have complained that some private schools in the city have started admitting students to nursery classes for 2015-16 academic session on the “first come, first served” basis.

They said institutions have asked them to pay the fee or else they might lose the seat.

A child rights group said it has received umpteen number of complaints from the anxious parents. “Schools are misusing the autonomy given to them and running institutions like shops. We have got many complaints in the last two days,” said Sumit Vohra, founder of www.admissionsnursery.com.

“Around five or six private schools in Dwarka, Pitampura, Rohini and Paschim Vihar have called all the parents who had applied and asked them to submit the fees on first come, first served basis,” Vohra added.

Some schools have received over 600 applications for only 100 seats. “Such institutions are not following the lottery method for candidates who have scored equal points. Instead they are charging anywhere between 70,000 and 80,000 non refundable fees to secure a seat,” Vohra said. “It has spread panic among parents as most of the other schools are yet to declare results,” he added.

Parents said if they deposit the fees they will lose the money if their child gets selected in a better school as results of other institutions are expected within a few days. “There is no conformation from any schools that the fee will be refunded. So we are in a fix, we don’t know whether to deposit the fee or not?” said a parent seeking admission in a school in Rohini.

Experts said that schools are following unethical practice and making primary education a business. “If we get selected in any engineering or medical college do we get admission on the first come, first served basis?” asked Vohra. “Some schools have called six people for every seat and this is bound to create anxiety and stress among parents,” he added.

Educationists said that schools are in a win-win situation. “If any candidate withdraws after submitting the first installment, schools will get double fee for a single seat as the fee deposited is not refundable,” said Vohra.

Last month, the Directorate of Education (DoE) had directed all private schools in the city to come up with the first list of selected candidates in an alphabetical with the students shortlisted under Economically Weaker Section category.
DH News Service