Kejriwal government ends management quota in private schools

Criticising some of the other criteria set by the schools, Kejriwal announced that the government is striking down 62 debatable criteria.

Ahead of the new academic year, the Delhi government on Wednesday issued an order scrapping the so-called management quota in nursery admissions in the city’s private schools. “We are now opening 50% more seats for them”, said Kejriwal. “When we compiled it, we saw children whose parents smoke, eat non-veg or drink will not get admission (some schools have said)”.

Delhi Government today scrapped management and all other quotas except for the Economically Weaker Sections in private schools for nursery admissions.

“Lots of private schools have made terrific reservations”. 75 per cent of its seats are reserved. If schools are not misusing the management quota, I don’t think there is a need to scrap it. If any of the school managers want to admit someone according to their wish, they should be allowed.

“The court had not allowed quota. As of now, it would be premature to comment on the order”, said Ashok Pandey, chairperson of NPSC and principal of Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar. References from the chief minister, deputy chief minister, a judge, a station house officer, commissioner of police, income tax department… or they are sold. “It is not acceptable”, Mr Kejriwal said.

If the school managements object, the government will go to court, he said.

He said the existing provision of 25 percent seats earmarked for students from Extremely Weaker Section (EWS) will remain in place. The criteria, it stated, should be “clear, well defined, equitable, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent”. The decision by the government came in the midst of the admission process for nursery classes in over 2,500 private schools in the capital. The government’s move opens more seats for general admissions.

“If the schools do not budge, they can be de-recognised or government can take them over”. The fee structure of the school is same for everyone in the school. The criteria abolished ranged from parents? achievement to first born child to parents.

RC Jain, Chairperson of Delhi State Public Schools’ Management Association which has over 2000 schools as its members, said, “having management quota or not having it is schools’ autonomy, the government can’t snatch that right”. They had promised to let their buses be used for public transport during the odd-even operations in Delhi till January 15, but had not kept their pledge, said the minister. The move has been approved by the Cabinet as well. So, the court had said you can not formulate criteria.