BENGALURU: A prestigious school in the city, affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and run by Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, has found itself in the eye of a storm after allegedly refusing to admit children to Class 1 under the Right to Education quota.
On Wednesday, the parents of some children who were allotted seats at National Hill View Public School in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, protested demanding admission for their wards as Wednesday was the last date for admission at the allotted schools in the first round of seat selection.
The school has two units in the same locality. According to the parents, who have lodged a complaint with the Block Education Officer (BEO), the school authorities are not admitting children to Class 1. Chandre Gowda, a parent, said, “Though there is a rule mandating that schools should admit children both at LKG and Class 1, NHVPS is denying admission.”
Following the High Court’s intervention, the Department of Primary Education, for the first time this year, introduced double entry points at schools under RTE Act. At National Hill View Public School’s two units, the total number of seats for LKG is 70 and for Class 1, it is 112. As per the rules, this year, the institution has to give 25 per cent of the 42 extra seats added in Class 1 for RTE quota children. The school had allocated 33 seats in LKG but is denying admission for 39 seats in Class 1 at it two units.
Shivakumar, who did not respond to calls by Express, however, spoke about the issue on Tuesday. “We are providing seats at one level, we will not give seats at two levels. We have to check the income status of the parents of children who have got seats under the quota,” he said.
The BEO told the parents that he cannot issue a notice to the school as it is run by a minister. Department officials said there are other schools denying admission to RTE children and added that notices will be issued.