JOIN USSchool given 2 days to admit RTE students
Kripa Amar Alva, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), visited the National Public School (NPS), Rajajinagar, on Thursday, following complaints by parents whose children were refused seats under the 25 percent quota.
On reaching the school, Alva who was accompanied by parents, children and members of the RTE Students’ and Parents’ Association had to force their way in.
“We were made to wait for 15-20 minutes and even when we went in there was no principal or official member of the school management who met us. Finally, a person who claimed to be the manager of the school spoke to us. One needs to respect each other. It is not right on their part to close their doors on us,” said Alva.
As many as seven students were refused admission to LKG by the school as it claimed the concerned students did not fulfill the age requirement. Speaking to Deccan Herald, B N Yoganand, secretary, RTE Students’ and Parents’ Association, said the LKG section in the school had a total of 60 seats, of which 15 seats come under the 25 percent reserved quota.
The school has already admitted eight students. “While the school says that only those students who are four years old can get admission to LKG, a circular had been issued by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for 2015-16 admissions, whereby those between three to four years can be admitted,” he said. The seven children who were refused admission were aged around 3.8 and 3.9 years, he said.
Alva said the school has been given two days to admit the children, failing which action will be initiated against them.