In a significant move towards educational equity, the Punjab government has activated a crucial online mechanism to enforce the long-pending 25% reservation for underprivileged children in private schools across the state. This action follows judicial pressure and marks the first concrete step to implement a key provision of the Right to Education Act.
Portal Goes Live, Registration Mandatory by January 12
The state's education department has officially launched a dedicated web portal, making it live for immediate access. The portal, accessible at http://www.rte.epunjabschool.gov.in, is now the central hub for this initiative. In a directive issued on Tuesday, the department has made it compulsory for all private, unaided schools in Punjab to register on this platform.
The order, signed by Director of School Education (Secondary) Gurinder Singh Sodhi, sets a firm deadline. All private schools must complete their registration on the portal by January 12. Post-registration, schools are required to furnish detailed information including their total annual fee structure, the entry-level classes where the RTE quota applies, the total number of seats, and the specific number of seats reserved under the 25% mandate.
Court Pressure Catalyzes Action After Long Delay
This development comes directly in response to strict observations from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had reprimanded the state government for its prolonged delay in executing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, particularly Section 12(1)(c).
This section of the landmark 2009 law mandates that private unaided schools reserve a minimum of 25% of their entry-level seats for children from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups. Despite the law being over a decade old, its on-ground implementation in Punjab has been sporadic, leading to protests by activists.
While the government had earlier issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for admissions under court directive, the launch of a monitoring portal had remained pending until now.
How the Portal Will Function for Parents and Schools
The portal is designed to serve a dual purpose: ensuring compliance from schools and providing transparency for parents. According to Director Sodhi, speaking to The Indian Express, the portal will become fully operational for the 2026-27 academic session.
From that session onward, it will be mandatory for schools to not only reserve the quarter of seats for underprivileged children but also consistently update the details on the portal. This will allow parents to access the platform, check the availability of reserved seats in any particular private school, and potentially book a seat for their child through a streamlined process.
The order has been formally communicated to all school heads and District Education Officers (DEOs) across Punjab, instructing them to ensure immediate compliance. This move is seen as a pivotal step in bridging the educational gap and making quality private education accessible to children from all socio-economic backgrounds in the state.
