Karnataka private schools have been given the green light to begin admissions for the 2025-26 academic year, but with a firm reminder from the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL): testing children or interviewing parents during the admission process is strictly prohibited. The directive aims to ensure compliance with the Right to Education (RTE) Act and state guidelines, which include a mandate for 50% seat reservation for girls.
In a circular issued by the DSEL, schools were informed that while they can start the admission process in April, they must refrain from any form of screening, including tests or interviews. Violating this directive could lead to serious consequences under Section 13(2)(b) of the RTE Act, 2009, as reported by The Hindu.
KV Thrilok Chandra, the Commissioner of Public Instruction, emphasized that schools affiliated with all boards, including CBSE and ICSE, need to adhere to both board-specific admission rules and state-level guidelines. He warned that failure to comply could result in the revocation of recognition or the No Objection Certificate (NOC) that allows the schools to operate.
Despite these regulations, many parents have expressed concerns that some schools continue to flout the rules. Parents reported that children are denied admission based on poor performance in tests, which contradicts the DSEL's directive. This has raised alarms about the transparency of the admission process.
To foster a fair and equitable admission process, the DSEL has mandated that schools maintain complete transparency. This includes displaying admission schedules, available seats, class-wise distribution, and detailed fee structures on notice boards. Schools are also required to share this information through the Student Achievement Tracking System (SATS), their official websites, and in prospectuses.
One of the significant mandates in this new circular is the requirement for all co-educational schools to reserve 50% of seats for girls. This rule applies uniformly across all boards, ensuring that gender parity is promoted in education. Only if the quota for girls is not met can the remaining seats be allocated to boys.
In addition to these measures, the government has reiterated its ban on capitation fees, a practice that has plagued unaided schools despite being outlawed under the RTE Act. The DSEL has stressed that schools must clearly publish their fixed fee structures for public viewing, ensuring that this information is readily accessible across all official platforms.
In a related development, the state school education department has initiated the RTE admission process, allowing students from the second waiting list to secure admission in the 25% reserved seats. The deadline for these admissions has been extended to April 25, 2025, from the original April 15 date.
The application process for admission through the RTE quota for the 2025-26 academic year began on January 14, 2025. Out of 3.05 lakh applications received for 1,09,087 seats in the state, 1,01,967 names were drawn. However, as of now, only 64,619 students have secured admission, leaving more than 36,000 seats vacant.
The RTE Act provides for the reservation of 25% of seats in private unaided schools at the entry level for children from disadvantaged and weaker sections. This initiative aims to ensure that economically weaker families, who might struggle to afford high-fee schools, have the opportunity to send their children to private institutions.
Initially, a deadline of February 28, 2025, was set for parents to submit their documents and secure their children's admission. However, due to an insufficient number of admissions—only 50,000 students were admitted by that date—the process was extended until March 10, 2025. By this extended deadline, parents of 64,619 students had successfully submitted their documents and obtained admission.
The DSEL's recent actions and reminders reflect a commitment to uphold the principles of the RTE Act, ensuring that all children have access to quality education without discrimination. With the emphasis on transparency and adherence to guidelines, the department aims to create a more equitable admission process across Karnataka's private schools.
As the admissions continue, it remains crucial for schools to comply with these regulations and for parents to remain vigilant about their rights. The future of many children depends on the successful implementation of these measures, which are designed to promote fairness and inclusivity in education.
