Thursday, January 19, 2012

• Schools to announce availability of seats by April 10
• First list of admitted students on May 3

Bangalore: Even as several private schools have begun the process of admission, the Department of Public Instruction has sent circulars to schools in Karnataka instructing them not to issue admission forms before April 20.

The circular issued by the Commissioner of Public Instruction says that the circular to schools follows complaints on absence of transparency in admissions and fee structure in private schools. The circular prescribes a timeline for the entire admission process and lays down conditions for collection of fees. However, schools where admissions are most sought after in cities like Bangalore — those affiliated to the CBSE and ICSE boards — have not been issued the circular.

Challenged in HCM
Commissioner of Public Instruction Tushar Girinath said that similar instructions issued during the admission season last year to all schools (including those affiliated to CBSE and ICSE) had been challenged in the High Court and there was a stay on the matter. “So we have restricted the circular to schools affiliated to the State Board this year,” he told The Hindu.

In January last year, the Karnataka High Court had held that all schools, irrespective of their affiliation, should come under the umbrella of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983. Justice H. Nagmohan Das had ruled that schools cannot be allowed to charge fees and operate without any control and quashed provisions of the Act that provide exemption to some schools. He had said that such provisions were “unconstitutional and ultra vires”.

However, this judgement was challenged by private schools, and the judgement was stayed. The case is pending before the court.

No RTE impact
On the other hand, with the State rules of the Right to Education Act, 2009, (which prescribes certain admission and fee rules applicable to all schools) still to be notified, private schools in the State are likely to remain beyond its provisions this academic year as well.

The rules, which have seen several rounds of consultations and drafts, are now pending before the Finance Department for approval. The State has also, repeatedly, raised the issue of financial burden and sought greater aid from the Centre for implementing the legislation.

As of now, the State Government seems to be in no mood to invoke provisions of the legislation to streamline the admission process and fee structure.

According to the circular issued by the department, State Board schools and pre-schools have to announce the availability of seats by April 10 and issue circulars between April 20 and April 30. First list of admitted students should be announced on May 3 and second list on May 16.

The circular also specifies rules on maximum tuition fee and developmental fee that schools can charge per pupil for various classes. Besides, it lays down rules on reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.