Reserve 25% Seats for Underprivileged, Schools Not Adhering to RTE Guidelines to Close Down: UP Govt

In a significant development for the upcoming academic session of 2024, the Directorate of Education has issued a directive to all District Magistrates (DMs) concerning admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The directive warns of stringent measures against schools failing to comply with RTE admission guidelines. Recently, Lucknow DM Surya Pal Gangwar issued a stern ultimatum to schools, setting a 7-day deadline for RTE admissions. He emphasised that schools not adhering to RTE guidelines risked closure within eight days. This action followed the reprimand of 62 schools in Lucknow for non-compliance.

Responding to the situation, Director General of School Education, Kanchan Verma, has now dispatched a letter to all DMs across Uttar Pradesh, urging them to enforce RTE admissions promptly. The directive mandates that schools must reserve 25 percent of their seats for underprivileged children as per the RTE Act. It also specifies that admissions should prioritise children residing within the Gram Panchayat jurisdiction and a one-kilometer radius of the school.

The move comes amidst reports of reluctance from several schools to admit children under RTE, despite approximately 1.65 lakh eligible children statewide, only 72,044 have secured admission. Complaints have surfaced regarding schools demanding unnecessary documents from parents, causing distress.