Image Source: outlookindia

In a move that will bring respite to the parents, Delhi government has scrapped management and other quotas from private schools. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has cited violation of constitutional provisions, lack of transparency and looming scandal in the admission through the management quotas. It is worthwhile noting that the quotas (25%) that existed for the economically weaker sections will continue.

Announcing the decision taken at a meeting of the state’s cabinet, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the management quota the breeding ground for “biggest scandal” in the education sector in the country and said his government will not be a “mute spectator” to it.

Areas where the govt weighed in:

1. The government scrapped 62 “arbitrary and discriminatory” criteria listed by the schools on their websites for admissions.
2. The decision will be applicable on more than 2,500 private schools in the capital, where admission process for nursery classes is going to start soon .
3. Government has cracked down on the “arbitrary” criteria for admissions which included admissions through recommendations from the Chief Minister to recommendations from an income tax official.
4. The discriminatory criteria include the requirement of parents to declare if they smoke, drink or consume non-vegetarian food among other shocking disclosures which parents had to make were made away with. These arbitrary regulations violated the Right to Equality guaranteed by constitution.

Expected outcome of the Government’s actions

1.  Increased transparency in allocation and availability of seats besides ensuring fair admissions through the open quota.
2. The quota kept aside for the Economically weaker sections will continue.
3. An end to the practice of selling seats.
4. Effective regulation of private schools by the government would curb exploitative practices and discriminatory criteria.

Education is ought to be an investment, however, it has too often been a lucrative business which has hurt quality education being made available to all. The Logical Indian commends the Delhi Government in its efforts to take on the exploitative practices of the education mafia and in its efforts to reform the education system of Delhi. Perhaps it could inspire similar actions from other state governments too.