Pune: Delay in Approval Hinders RTE Admission Process in Maharashtra; Parents and Students Await Government Nod

Pune, 22nd January 2024: The Right to Education (RTE) admission process in Maharashtra faces a significant delay as the Maharashtra State Government has yet to approve the proposal sent by the Department of Primary Education. The proposal seeks approval for the admission process for 25 per cent reserved seats under the RTE Act, causing distress among parents and students eagerly awaiting the commencement of the admission process.

Despite the primary education department sending the proposal to the state government a month ago, the necessary approval has not been granted. As a result, the RTE admission process for the 25 per cent reserved seats has not commenced, leaving parents in a state of uncertainty and anxiety.

Under the Right to Education Act, 25 per cent of seats in unaided private English medium schools are reserved for students from economically weaker and disadvantaged sections. The admission process for these reserved seats is centrally managed by the Primary Education Department through an online process. However, this year, the process has been delayed, causing concern among parents.

The RTE admission process typically witnesses over three lakh applications for nearly one lakh seats in the state. Last year, for the academic year 2023-24, more than three lakh applications were received for one lakh one thousand 847 seats in eight thousand 824 schools across the state.

Traditionally, the admission process begins between November and December, extending until August-September. However, with January coming to an end, the admission process for the academic year 2024-25 has yet to commence, causing frustration and uncertainty among parents.

Sharad Gosavi, State Director of the Primary Education Department, acknowledged the delay and stated, “A proposal has been sent to the state government to approve the start of the admission process for 25 per cent reserved seats as per the Right to Education Act. The Education Department cannot start this process unless the government gives an order. The Maharashtra Government will start this admission process next week. It is expected that it will be approved.”