RTE ADMISSIONS: Parents, kids get another chance when second round begins on June 1

Students and parents have an additional chance to secure admissions through Right to Education (RTE) as two rounds will be conducted starting from June 1. These rounds will be conducted as the state government has introduced certain categories in the RTE admission process.

The second round will begin on June 1 which will be followed by the third round before the schools begin for academic year 201819. Parents have been given 10 days by the civic education department to prepare and apply for online RTE admission process. The first round was conducted last month.

This year, a total of 8,341 seats are available under RTE in Mumbai out of which 2,080 students have been admitted and 6,261 seats are vacant. These seats will be available in the second and third rounds. Mahesh Palkar, civic education officer managing RTE admissions told The Free Press Journal, "We will conduct the second round of RTE admissions on June 1 as per the new categories added by the state government. We are currently doing the paper work for the second round and will inform parents about the application process accordingly."

On Thursday, the state issued a government regulation (GR) stating all categories from VJ and NT (Vimukta Jati and Nomadic tribes), OBC (Other Backward Classes), and SBC (Special Backward Class) will be included into the under-privileged category with a view to ensure that no student is deprived of education. Also, a privilege has been given to HIV-positive students can also seek admission under the RTE Act.

The aim of these additions is to provide free and compulsory education to all children. A state education officer said, "No student can be deprived of his or her right to education. Till now, the RTE was catering to economically weak students but now we also want to help students who are from socially backward classes or are facing major health problems."

Under the RTE Act, 2009, 25 per cent seats in private unaided schools are reserved for marginalised students. Students of families with an annual income less than Rs 1 lakh can apply online for RTE admission. The elementary education of these students (from Class 1 to Class 8) is entirely funded by the state government.

Every year, around three rounds are conducted for RTE admission and students are allotted admissions based on online application. Students are allotted schools near their residence within a maximum distance of three kilometres. While schools cannot use the seats under 25 per cent reserved for RTE for regular admissions and hence if they do not allot admissions through RTE these seats remain vacant for the entire academic year.

This year, a total of 8,341 seats are available under RTE in Mumbai out of which 2,080 students have been admitted and 6,261 seats are vacant. These seats will be available in the second and third rounds.