As schools in Noida and Ghaziabad prepare to close for summer vacations today, only about half of the students selected under the Right to Education (RTE) Act have successfully secured admissions so far. Officials had earlier cautioned that schools are often reluctant to process RTE admissions after reopening in July, making timely compliance critical to ensure seats are filled.
Admission Statistics in Noida and Ghaziabad
In Noida, approximately 2,300 admissions have been completed against the 4,330 seats allotted this year. Similarly, Ghaziabad is facing a comparable situation, where only around 3,300 admissions have been finalized out of nearly 6,200 students selected through three rounds of the RTE draw of lots. These figures highlight a significant gap between allotment and actual enrollment.
Notices Issued to Non-Compliant Schools
A few weeks ago, the education department issued notices to 25 private schools in Noida for failing to admit RTE students. The principals were directed to appear before the Noida district magistrate on May 7, but the meeting was never held. In Ghaziabad, notices were sent to 40 schools following complaints from parents about admission delays. While representatives from 30 schools attended a meeting chaired by Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Manglesh Dubey on May 7, those who failed to appear were issued further notices. Officials stated that several schools have yet to respond despite being given a week’s time to comply.
Parents Allege Delays and Lack of Transparency
Parents have alleged that many schools are deliberately delaying the admission process, forcing them to make repeated visits to campuses and the office of the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA). Vivek Tyagi, president of a parents’ association, said, “Several parents have reached out to us. The parents of a child who was selected in the first lottery nearly two months ago have alleged that the school has continued to refuse admission despite official instructions. Another parent said he has been visiting both the school and the BSA office for over a month and a half, but the admission was still pending despite all documents being submitted. There must be more transparency in the RTE process.”
Official Response and Next Steps
Officials have acknowledged that around 45 schools in Ghaziabad are yet to fully comply with RTE admission norms. Ghaziabad’s BSA, OP Yadav, stated, “The department is regularly seeking reports from the schools, and the process will be completed at the earliest. If the schools don't allow admission, then action will be taken.” The education department is expected to intensify monitoring and enforcement to ensure all selected students are enrolled before the new academic session begins.
