RTE admissions: Only 53% students confirm seats

Even as the education department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had given special concessions to students selected under the 25% Right to Education (RTE) quota in city schools, only about 53% students managed to confirm seats in the first round.

Till September 15, which was the last day to confirm admissions under the quota, only 2,928 of the 5,371 students who were allotted schools in the first round managed to complete their admission process.

This year, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the education department had allowed parents to send their documents to schools online. They were also given time to report to schools in slots given to them to confirm their admissions later. However, very few parents confirmed admissions.

In 2019, almost a similar number of students had confirmed their admissions.

RTE admissions: Only 53% students confirm seats in Mumbai

Officials at the department said that the low numbers despite the relaxations in the process might be a result of migration of parents due to job losses.

“Many children are yet to come back to the city from their hometowns. Some parents who might have applied for a seat might not be able to come back due to financial losses. Schools were asked to follow up with all the selected students and the final number is arrived at after having told them to confirm their seats on many occasions,” said an official from the department.

This year, a total of 14,135 applications were received for the 7,069 available seats under the quota in the city. Students whose names have appeared on the waiting list will be eligible to claim seats against vacancies.

RTE admissions: Only 53% students confirm seats in Mumbai

 383,403 total views