Despite the increased focus by government agencies and the media on arbitrary admission practices by private schools, many institutions in the city are violating norms set by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Most have started the admission process with some even concluding it and putting up ‘Admissions Over’ boards.
Following complaints from parents, Express visited some reputed schools in the city and was surprised to see the admission process for the 2014-15 academic year rolling along.
Interestingly, many schools have adopted a common method to deal with any queries on admissions: the watchman standing at the gates will answer queries.
Officials of only a few schools agreed to talk over the phone. Some refused to provide details about fees and insisted that people buy application forms and come back later.
As per the calendar of events released by the DPI, the admission process should begin only by January 6, 2014. But some schools, including Delhi Public School (West), The National Hill View Public School and Orchids The International School are openly giving advertisements. They have put up hoardings in various parts of the city and are also using social media platforms too.
The admission processes also seem to be changing with some schools not receiving applications in person and are instead insisting that parents apply only online. Some of these institutions— such as Sri Kumaran Children’s Home— will receive online applications from only a fixed number of non-RTE applicants. Once the school has received the required number of applications, the registration system stops working.
Venkat International Public School, Rajajinagar, and Sri Vani Education Centre, Basaveshwaranagar, also prefer online applications only.
There are some schools that have mentioned their hike in annual fees. The National Hill View Public School is charging `96,000 for pre-nursery/play group and, as per an undertaking from parents, it will hike fees by 10-15 per cent annually. Apart from this, transportation, books, bags and uniform charges are separate. Despite these exercises, the schools point out that they cannot assure seats to applicants. Sri Vani Education Centre states that it does not guarantee admissions.
The fee structure varies from school to school. The fees range from `25,000 in some schools to more than 10 times that amount in others. Some international schools provide a package, including boarding, for up to `6 lakh per annum.