Delhi private schools must admit all candidates under EWS/CWSN categories: DoE

Complaints of private schools denying admissions to children belonging to Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Disadvantaged Groups (DG) and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) citing fewer admissions in general seats has prompted the Directorate of Education (DoE) to threaten withdrawal of recognition to such schools.

In a recent notification, the DoE has directed, “All private schools are bound to grant admissions to all eligible EWS/DG & CWSN selected/allotted candidates irrespective of lesser general admissions.”

According to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, schools are supposed to reserve admissions to 25% of the declared strength of their entry-level classes for these categories. Schools usually implement it by admitting one student from their allotted list after three general admissions.

Schools across the city were hit by a drop in general admissions last year due to the economic distress caused by the pandemic.