School bodies such as Delhi Sate Public School Management (DSPSM), an associatio

n of unrecognised private schools, and Federation of Public Schools (FPS), an as

sociation of 300 of private schools, on Thursday said they will not follow the g
overnment directive regarding reserving 25% seats innursery classes for students
from EWS category.
The reservation of 25% seats has been made mandatory under Right to Education (R
TE) Act from the 2011-12 academic session in Delhi.The nursery admission guideli
nes issued by the Delhi government also reiterated the same.
DSPSM chairperson RC Jain said, "This is an attempt by the government to create
a vote bank. Taking children from EWS category will mean schools may have to inc
rease their fee, the burden of which will have to be borne by the general catego
ry students. This is not fair."
On Thursday, Delhi education minister Arvinder Singh had warned schools against
denial of nursery admission to EWS children, saying strict against will be taken
against those who do not follow the rule. Six months ago Action Committee, an u
mbrella organisation of all the various school bodies comprising 1,950 unaided r
ecognised schools in the city, had filed a petition against the reservation for
EWS under the RTE Act.
They had said the act undermines the autonomy of the schools, earlier granted un
der the TMA Pai judgment.
But on Friday SL Jain, senior vice-president, Action Committee, and principal of
Mahavir Jain Senior Secondary School, said, "Though we have filed a petition in
the court, the hearing is yet to take place. Till then we will follow the RTE
Act and grant reservation to EWS students. All schools should respect the law of
the land and act accordingly."
School bodies such as National Progressive School Conference (NPSC), an organisa
tion with about 110 leading private schools, have also condemned the statement m
ade by DSPSM and FPS.
"We condemn such irresponsible and insensitive statements made by school bodies.
We categorically state that we have nothing to do with it and will follow the R
TE Act completely," said Goldy Malhotra, chairperson, NPSC, and principal of Mod
ern School, Vasant Vihar.
"Does being poor mean that you are only entitled to poor education? Reservation
will ensure that the education system is equitable and even the poor can access
good education," said Ameeta Wattal, secretary, NPSC, and principal of Springdal
es School, Pusa Road.
Unaided public schools in the city had expressed their dissatisfaction about the
amount of money being reimbursed by the government to them for EWS category.
Though an official circular is awaited on the amount to be reimbursed, the educa
tion minister had indicated that it will be anything between Rs 1,000-Rs 1,300 p
er child, which the said schools claimed was too less.