RTE Model Rules Consultation Implementing the 25% in RTE: Developing a Model

Identification Awareness Admission Process Reimbursement Maintaining Record Transfer of Students Learning Assessment Implementation Model

Identifying and calculating 25 %  25% seats reserved for “disadvantaged groups and weaker sections”  25% reservation: anyone from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections can apply if the annual family income is less than a stipulated amount  If an unaided school is already under an obligation to provide free education to a specified number of children under any other law then that number should be adjusted to 25%

Income Proof  Any government document like income certificate, ration card, job card issued under NREGA, smart card proposed by Delhi government, etc  Responsibility of local govt to verify candidates, how?  List of ‘excluded’ as opposed to income certificate? (income tax payers, businesses with turn over of more than Rs 5 lacs)

Neighbourhood School  Principle of Neighbourhood (1 km for class 1- 5 and 3 kms for 6-8) should be used only to establish new schools  Neighbourhood criteria should not be a restriction to seek admission in a school under 25% reservation

Awareness of 25% reservation  Government must post a notification on the right of disadvantaged groups and weaker sections to seek admissions in private schools in local newspapers and radio  Each school must announce the number of seats reserved under 25%  The information on number of seats must be given to the State/local authority by the school

Awareness (cont’d)  Local/State authorities must compile and place outside its office and where applicable on website, the number of seats available for disadvantaged and weaker section in each school within its jurisdiction  Role of social mobilization and social audit?

Admission Form  Common admission form at the city/town and block level to be made available online and for free in any school or State/local authorities-DoE, municipality, zilla parishad, panchayat, etc.  Admission form should be in English as well as local language and give the option of listing upto 10 schools in the order of preference  Admission forms should be submitted to State/local authorities and the receipt of the same must be acknowledged by assigning a registration number

Selection Process Lottery at School Level  Selection of students should be done by lottery first at the school level (assuming more applicants than seats in the school)  Computerized lottery for each school should be done by the State/local authority on the specified date in a public place in front of parents/media  The list (including waiting list) should be publicized in the state/local authority offices as well as in individual schools

Selection Process Lottery at Student Level  There should be a second round of lottery at student level for students who do not get admission in any of their preferred schools  Applicants should be able to check their status/ranking with remaining schools online as well as get information from state/local authorities.  Publish the final 25% reservation list in each school

Reimbursement  Reimbursement to school’s bank account on a per student basis  Per student expenditure calculation be based on total school education budget (recurring and capital cost, plan and non-plan outlays) under all concerned Ministries/Depts  Reimbursement should be done in two parts- 80% to be paid on admission and the remaining 20% at the end of the year after receiving the assessment report of student learning achievement

Reimbursement (cont’d)  State Education Department must maintain a public list of students studying in each school and update from time to time whether the child is still studying there and reimbursement has been done  Role of social audit and NCPCR

School Transfers  During the academic year, a student can seek transfer to those schools that have not filled their 25% seats. If no such school exists which is convenient to the student then student can transfer to government school, may apply next year for lottery  Each year the schools should review if any student in 25% quota has left. That vacancy should be published and applications should be invited first from those seeking transfer to the school from weaker and disadvantaged sections.

Happy Brainstorming!

Definition in RTE Act, section 2  ( d) "child belonging to disadvantaged group" means a child belonging to the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribe, the socially and educationally backward class or such other group having disadvantage owing to social, cultural, economical, geographical, linguistic, gender or such other factor, as may be specified by the appropriate Government, by notification;

Definition (cont’d)  (e) "child belonging to weaker section" means a child belonging to such parent or guardian whose annual income is lower than the minimum limit specified by tile appropriate Government, by notification;

RTE Act section 12 (b) aided schools  specified in sub-clause (ii) of clause (n) of section 2 shall provide free and compulsory elementary education to such proportion of children admitted therein as its annual recurring aid or grants so received bears to its annual recurring expenses, subject to a minimum of twenty five percent;

RTE Act, Section 12  Provided further that where such school is already under obligation to provide free education to a specified number of children on account of it having received any land building, equipment or other facilities either free of cost or at a concessional rate such school shall not be entitled for reimbursement to the extent of such obligation.