Delhi Nursery Admisions: As nursery admission for EWS begins, parents clueless about online procedure

Soon after learning about the commencement of nursery admission under Economically Weaker Section (EWS)/Disadvantaged Group (DG) category in private schools across the Capital on Monday, Ikram Abbas, a rikshaw-puller in south Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, visited all schools in his locality. Abbas, who is seeking admission for his 4-year-old daughter, however, had to return home disappointed.

"I was told that parents who want to apply under the EWS/DG category have to fill an online form and need not visit the schools. I was not aware of the process. For people like me who can't even read or write, online admission process is a nightmare," rued Abbas. He will now take help of either an NGO or a cyber cafe person in filling the form. "I won't take the risk of filling the form myself. What if I make any mistake and the form gets rejected?" the 35-year-old wondered.

Abbas is among those thousands of parents who want to admit their wards to a private school under the 25 per cent seats reserved for the EWS/Disadvantaged (DG) category. The Delhi government conducts online centralised admission for this category. Unlike previous years, the Directorate of Education (DoE) will conduct computerised lottery system for admissions in all 1,700 private unaided recognised schools.

Rakesh Singh, a vegetable vendor in east Delhi's Mayur Vihar, had similar experience. "I visited the neighboring Ahlcon Public School and was informed that no separate forms will be issued for the EWS/DG category. We have to fill a centralised form online and only one form per candidate will be accepted," he said. Singh is seeking admission for his 5-year-old son.

This year, the DoE has put an upper-age cap for admission to nursery at 3-5 years, for KG at 4-6 years and for Class I at 5-7 years. However, there is no such limit for general category students. The move draws activists and parents. "Why there is an upper age limit for poor people only? My son is 6-year old and haven't been to a school yet. I wonder if he will get admission in nursery or not," said Baby Devi, a domestic help.

Meanwhile, experts said that the helpline number issued by the DoE does not working properly.

"Few EWS/DG parents contacted the officials at the helpline number but volunteers there said that they have no knowledge about it. The DOE is requested to depute staff which has complete knowledge of EWS/DG admissions," said Sumit Vohra, founder admissionsnursery.com.

KNOW THIS

• The last date to fill the application form is February 21.

• The government will conduct the computerised draw of lots on March 7.