RTE admissions: Applicants directed to report to schools for document verification

With the completion of the lottery process under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, provisionally selected applicants have been directed to report to their allotted schools from July 1 to 11 for document verification and admission formalities.

An official from the Education Department said that 14,127 applications were received for RTE admissions across Haryana. After scrutiny, provisional results have been uploaded on the department’s website. Of these, 11,803 applicants have been allotted schools within 0–1 km and 1–3 km of their residences. However, 2,324 applicants could not be allotted schools due to unavailability of seats.

“All selected applicants must report to their allotted schools along with original documents for verification between July 1 and 11,” the official said.

Kulbhushan Sharma, president of the National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA), raised concerns about the manner in which schools were allotted.

“As per the RTE Act, for admissions from Classes 1 to 5, schools should be within 0–1 km, and for Classes 6 to 8, within 3 km. But the department has allotted schools in the 0-1 km and 1-3 km range even for entry-level classes, which is not in line with the Act. This mismatch could create reimbursement issues later,” Sharma said.

He welcomed the decision to verify documents at the school level but flagged a practical gap.

“Schools have no mechanism to verify the exact distance between the applicant’s residence and the school. Moreover, while the admission schedule has been released, no payment schedule has been announced. The dues from previous years also remain pending. A letter detailing our concerns has been sent to the Director of Elementary Education, and we hope for a resolution,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sudhir Kalra, District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO), Ambala, urged all stakeholders to ensure a smooth process.

“Applicants should check their provisional results and report to the allotted schools with documents. Schools must ensure hassle-free admissions, as 25% seats are reserved under RTE,” he said.

He added that Block Level Committees have been formed to oversee the admission process and assist parents facing any issues.

“If any applicant encounters difficulty in securing admission at the allotted school, they may approach the block committee. Instructions have been given to these committees to keep a close watch on the process,” Kalra said.

Haryana Tribune