GURGAON: Across the city, parents of kids over three years of age are anxious. With admission to nursery classes for the next session having recently kicked off, they are jittery about the lack of uniform admission criteria in schools.
With no state-prescribed rules for nursery admissions, the schools take the liberty of framing their own rules.
Though most prefer to shortlist on the basis of a points-based system, some use the lottery, while a few also screen students.
Ajay Aggarwal, a resident of South City II seeking admission for his three-year-old, says, "While I will apply to all schools in the neighourhood, where we'll score higher because of proximity, I'm worried because some might have other criteria such as first-come-first-served, or lottery."
Principals of city schools believe the points-based system is the best.
"No one is prohibited from adopting a method of their choice. But we should strive to use the best system available. The points-based system is fair, as kids staying in the neighbourhood stand a better chance over others," says Anita Makkar, principal of HDFC school, Sector 57.
She adds, "Screening is unfair as kids are too small to be interviewed. And it's inappropriate to interview parents about their bank balance or qualifications."
Savinder Kaur Rooprai, the headmistress of Salwan Public School in Sector 15, says, "There has to be a way of shortlisting candidates. When we receive 500 applications for a mere 90 seats, we can be fair only on the basis of a points-based system."
Sudha Goyal, director of Scottish High International School, which admits students on a first-come-first-served basis, says, "We are open to all candidates. But we only expect interested parents to personally approach the school and apply. Ones who come first are given preference."
Sumit Vohra, founder of a virtual platform for nursery admissions (http://admissionsnursery.com), says, "Though RTE rules don't apply to nursery admissions and hence, technically, schools may not be prohibited from screening students, but since most students continue to study in the same school, the RTE prohibition on screening for selection is rendered meaningless if it is not applicable for nursery admissions."
Education being a concurrent subject, state rules override national ones. And Haryana rules are stricter.
"The state rules clearly prohibit schools from screening parents or students, while short listing for nursery classes," says district elementary education officer Prem Lata Yadav.
Are Gurgaon's schools hearing?
With no state-prescribed rules for nursery admissions, the schools take the liberty of framing their own rules.
Though most prefer to shortlist on the basis of a points-based system, some use the lottery, while a few also screen students.
Ajay Aggarwal, a resident of South City II seeking admission for his three-year-old, says, "While I will apply to all schools in the neighourhood, where we'll score higher because of proximity, I'm worried because some might have other criteria such as first-come-first-served, or lottery."
Principals of city schools believe the points-based system is the best.
"No one is prohibited from adopting a method of their choice. But we should strive to use the best system available. The points-based system is fair, as kids staying in the neighbourhood stand a better chance over others," says Anita Makkar, principal of HDFC school, Sector 57.
She adds, "Screening is unfair as kids are too small to be interviewed. And it's inappropriate to interview parents about their bank balance or qualifications."
Savinder Kaur Rooprai, the headmistress of Salwan Public School in Sector 15, says, "There has to be a way of shortlisting candidates. When we receive 500 applications for a mere 90 seats, we can be fair only on the basis of a points-based system."
Sudha Goyal, director of Scottish High International School, which admits students on a first-come-first-served basis, says, "We are open to all candidates. But we only expect interested parents to personally approach the school and apply. Ones who come first are given preference."
Sumit Vohra, founder of a virtual platform for nursery admissions (http://admissionsnursery.com), says, "Though RTE rules don't apply to nursery admissions and hence, technically, schools may not be prohibited from screening students, but since most students continue to study in the same school, the RTE prohibition on screening for selection is rendered meaningless if it is not applicable for nursery admissions."
Education being a concurrent subject, state rules override national ones. And Haryana rules are stricter.
"The state rules clearly prohibit schools from screening parents or students, while short listing for nursery classes," says district elementary education officer Prem Lata Yadav.
Are Gurgaon's schools hearing?
Source- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Nursery-admissions-baffle-parents/articleshow/48244545.cms
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