Online admission of disadvantaged students in private schools soon in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Following allegations of irregularities in admission of students in private schools under Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation category, the Odisha Government will soon  come up with a portal for online admission of such students aged between six and 14 years.

Worth mentioning, Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act-2009 mandates reservation of a minimum of 25% of the seats at the entry level class for children belonging to economically weaker section and disadvantaged groups in all private unaided schools, excluding minority institutions. 

However, it is alleged that many private schools are not enrolling students in the reservation category for free education, the Odisha Government has developed an online portal www.rteparadarshi.odisha.gov.in for online admission of such students.

All private aided schools that have obtained the certificate of registration (CoR) either from the state Government or local administration will have to register in the portal to reserve 25 per cent seats for EWS students from Class 1 to 8 for for admission. And, respective District Education Officers (DEOs) will make sure that all  private aided schools under their jurisdiction do the registration.

Unaided private schools will also have to ensure the reservation for students from Class 1 or pre-Primary to Class 8.

“Disadvantaged students willing to take admission in the aided private schools will have to register their name in the portal. If required, Block Education Officers (BEOs) will provide assistance to them in the registration. The students will be enrolled in a private school that is located within 1 km from their place of stay,” official sources said.

On the context, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash said, “after the issue came to our notice, we have begun the process to streamline the system.  We will launch the portal soon to bring in more transparency in the admission process.”