Despite the Right to Education (RTE) Act prohibiting these methods, children are nonetheless screened and interrogated during the admissions process for schools. Two parents recently complained to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s education department, claiming that their kids had not only gone through the screening and interview procedure but had also been turned down by a reputable Prabhadevi school.
Parents have claimed that children applying to the Convent Girls' High School for kindergarten entrance were forced to go through screening procedures and interviews where they had to perform rhymes and identify colours, shapes, fruits, and vegetables. In order to guarantee fair access to education, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009 forbids schools from screening children or parents during the admissions process, as required by Section 13.
With the support of Yuva Sena, the parents complained about the school to the BMC education officer. Pradeep Sawant, a former Mumbai University senate member and leader of the Yuva Sena, said that the school has broken the rules previously. In a previous instance, it was discovered that a temporary teacher was accepting payment from parents in exchange for admittance. How is it possible for the school to interview young students? Are they unaware that the RTE forbids screening children for admission? questioned Pradeep Sawant.
A father who applied to have his daughter admitted to junior kindergarten said that they were notified to attend a document review session at 9 a.m. on February 12 after submitting an application. They entered the room at 2:30 pm. Our daughter was left hungry because we had not packed any food or refreshments and had anticipated a shorter wait.
The father of the student further said that, in general, his daughter is gregarious, especially with those she knows well. She became anxious because the principal doing the evaluation was new to her and the setting was in a new environment, when she was asked to recite rhymes and identify shapes during the admissions process. He asked the principal for a few minutes but was informed that it was not allowed. A child's confidence and morale can be severely impacted by this type of treatment, he said.
Parents claim that schools circumvent the law by conducting oral interviews that do not create a record and by referring to such screenings as "interactions" or "document reviews." Another parent who wished to remain anonymous said that a more friendly and upbeat atmosphere ought to have been established, given that they were soliciting kids for admission to junior kindergarten. Children became agitated and nervous due to the extended waiting period.
Parents said that they opted for the school primarily because of its proximity to their residence.
A top education officer stressed that proper action will be taken because the school is violating the RTE if screening is being done. Entry ought to be granted based on a first-come, first-served schedule or by a lottery-style random selection procedure. Siblings might get preference, the official stated.
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