Despite advertising, nine pvt schools yet to fill EWS seats

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 11

In all, 44 economically weaker section (EWS) seats are lying vacant at nine unaided schools even after advertisement inviting applications for admission in April as per the data released by the Chandigarh Education Department on Friday regarding the status of filled EWS seats under the Right to Education for 2019-20.

The latest data shows that 56 of 77 unaided schools filled the RTE seats in the city. However, three schools, including Vivek High School, Sector 38, St Kabir School, Sector 26, and Bal Niketan School Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, did not furnish details regarding the status of EWS seats.

The data regarding vacant seats in unaided schools was also sought by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in the programme approval board (PAB) meeting held with the UT Education Department this year. The UT was also requested to provide details of schools, which had to provide free education to disadvantaged groups and EWS on account of receiving land or any other assistance from the government.

Before advertisement for the vacant EWS seats by the Education Department, there were 753 entry-level reserved seats, which reduced to 730 after several schools dropped seats. Out of total reserved seats 686 were filled.

Schools that failed to fill all reserved seats even after advertisement, include Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, MDAAV High School, Sector 22, SD Saini Model School, Sector 38, Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, Aanchal International School, Sector 41, Shishu Niketan School, Sector 43, Green Castle School, Sector 47, Adarsh Bal Vidyapeeth School, Sector 47, and Lohia International School, Mani Majra.

Private unaided schools admit children under the RTE. Vacant seats are advertised by the Education Department so that parents of eligible students can apply for admission in schools where seats are vacant.