In pvt schools, most seats reserved for disabled students vacant, DOE calls for new applications
NEWDELHI: As many as 1,268 seats reserved for children with disabilities across private schools in the city were not filled in the ongoing academic session (2018-19). Taking stock of the situation, the Delhi government’s directorate of education (DOE) Thursday invited fresh online applications for these 1,268 seats.
According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 2016, three per cent of the total number of seats meant for the economically weaker section and disadvantaged groups (EWS/DG) category are reserved for children with disabilities. “Despite inviting online application against the available seats thrice vide circular dated 26/07/2018, 29/08/2018 and 31/10/2018; approximately 1,268 seats are still vacant against which no online application is available. Hence, the department has decided to call fresh online applications against these reserved available seats at present,” the DOE maintained in a circular.
The online applications will be available between December 22 and December 24 and the tentative date for computerised draw of lots is Decembers 26. The government will Saturday also release a list of schools where these seats are available. “Despite several attempts made by the DOE, a large number of seats remained vacant under the PWD quota that comprises 3% of the total 25 % seats reserved under the EWS/DG category. We did not receive any application against these seats. Now we are trying one last time to fill them,” DOE director Sanjay Goel said.
The department had announced admissions on 48,122 EWS/DG seats for the 2018-19 academic session. Of the total, three per cent — 1,444 seats — were meant for students with disabilities. Only 176 seats reserved for those with disabilities got filled.
Feroz Hassan, a daily wager from north-east Delhi’s Seelampur, thinks his 4.5-year-old son, who has a hearing disability, will not be able to “adjust” in a school meant for “normal” students. “My son can’t listen properly and it’s difficult to direct him at home as well. How can I send him to a normal school where he could be the only one with such a difficulty? That’s why I didn’t fill the form,” he said.
The DOE director said there is a “lack of awareness” among parents. “There are special education teachers in every school for such kids. Most campuses are now disabled-friendly,” he said.
Khagesh Jha, a lawyer who represents EWS/DG children, said, “Most of these kids live in slum clusters where people generally do not keep a tab on online notifications. Now also, there is just a two-day window and that too during the weekend. Who will apply in this short span of time?”