Jaipur: This year, private schools have received a staggering 6.25 lakh applications under the Right to Education (RTE) admissions, with over 3 lakh specifically for pre-primary classes.As per UDISE 2024-25 data and the state education dept’s annual report, seven lakh seats are available in private schools for admissions from pre-primary to class 1. For admissions under RTE, 25% of these seats are open, which is 1.75 lakh, leading to significant concerns about accommodating all applicants. Additionally, over 3,000 private schools reported receiving no applications under the RTE scheme this year.Damodar Prasad Goyal, president of Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan, said that even after all eligible students are given admission under RTE, there will still be students left to secure admission as the number of seats is less.“This is a serious concern, as how will so many students be accommodated? An unaided school is under obligation to admit 25% of the strength of that class, and accordingly only about 1.75 lakh students of the over six lakh applications can be admitted under RTE in pre-primary classes and class 1. Even after all seats are filled, there will be some students who would not get admission as the number of seats is less,” said Goyal.In the state, 36,424 private schools are eligible to take admissions under RTE, of which applications were received for 33,137 schools, and 3,287 schools did not receive any applications.“Due to the high number of applications, students who are not able to secure admissions should be accommodated in govt schools; that way, their academic year will not be lost, and studies can continue,” added Goyal.This year, 3.3 lakh are boys, 2.9 lakh are girls, and 11 were transgender students. At present, document verification can be done till March 25 for students selected under the first phase of school allotment. The second phase will be conducted on April 7. Document verification will be held from April 7 to April 13, while related grievances will be addressed from April 7 to April 20.
