RTE: Over, 7,000 applns received for 4,141 seats

Following criticisms to the introduction of the online procedure for applying under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Education department has also given the option of offline applications, at the block education officer’s office.

The personnel at the office are duty bound to upload the information (application) online, according to the resource persons from the Education department, who too part in an interaction programme on ‘Children’s Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009’, at Jaganmohan Palace here on Wednesday.

According to the applications received till February 11, a total of 7,072 applications have been received against 4,141 seats available under RTE in the district. With eight more days left (till February 19) for the department to receive the applications online, the number of applications are expected to increase further.

Participating in the annual exercise organised by the office of Deputy Director of Public Instructions (DDPI), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the office of District Planning Coordinator, the resource persons said that there was no provision to reject the applications online and if there were any confusions, the same could be clarified at the BEO’s office.

However, only one application can be submitted online.

Following the queries, the resource persons directed the parents to apply for seat under RTE only after confirming from the office of respective BEOs that the school falls under the same ward, where they reside.

Similalry, the BEO office should confirm on the ward limit of the schools shifted from one locality to another. Parents should also be aware of the number of seats available under RTE at unaided schools. A total of 25 per cent of the seats are available under RTE, with highest of 16 per cent reserved for others, 7.5 per cent for SC, and 1.5 pc for ST. Though the income limit is not fixed for SC and ST candidates, it is mandatory to submit both caste and income certificates.

The children in the age group of five to six-and-a-half years (as applicable to May 31, 2015), shall be considered for admission for class one, while the parents of specially-abled students, and destitute children should obtain information on relaxation in age from the respective BEO office.

It is also the responsibility of the parents to ensure that the schools that they are applying to are recognised. It is mandatory to submit one of the 23 documents certified by the government in support of domicile records. The documents could be, Aadhaar, driving licence, passport, electoral photo ID card, bank passbooks, among others.

Complaints if any, can be lodged with the social justice standing committees and Education Standing Commitees at Taluk and Zilla Panchayats, respectively.

If there are any errors at the time filling the applications, it can be corrected under ‘edit option’.