RTE: 2.33 lakh children eligible for 1.52L seats

As many as 2,33,242 candidates’ applications are eligible to get seats under the Right to Education (RTE) quota, this year.

The lottery process for allotment of seats took place on Friday in Bengaluru. The total number of seats available is 1,52,117. Of these, 79,685 are available for LKG and 74,232 for Class I. Applicants were permitted to submit applications either with the EID numbers or Aadhaar cards.

This year, the department received as many as 1,905 applications under the special category. However, of these, only 418 were eligible and the others have been transferred to the general category by the department.

Only 533 applications are eligible to be considered to be special cases (Orphans, migrant and street children, those affected and living with HIV, transgenders, children with special needs and children of the deceased farmers), and would be given special preference.

Also, for the first time, aided schools have been brought under the RTE ambit for seats. This academic year, it meant an addition of up to 50,000 seats.

Schools to bear expenses

Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary, Education Department, said that the government would provide textbooks for those students who will study state syllabus under the RTE quota seats while for those studying in the CBSE and ICSE schools, individual schools will have to buy textbooks and uniforms for students.

“A fresh notification would be issued in this regard to ensure there is clarity after seeking permission from the Election Commission. These are not new rules. The existing ones under RTE rules are being implemented,” she added.

The department had made draft rules pertaining to regulation of fee in private schools. Rajneesh said that it was also sent to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

“Once the model code of conduct is lifted, we will issue rules in this regard,” she added.

No delay

With the model code of conduct in place, the department had to seek permission from the Election Commission for decisions pertaining the next academic year. Rajneesh said that this would have no impact on the distribution of textbooks or decisions related to the reopening of schools. “Certain circulars would be issued soon after the code of conduct is lifted,” she added.