25 percent reservation for economically and socially disadvantaged children in private schools under RTE Act
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Shimla Mar 17
A Spokesperson of Elementary Education Department today informed that, as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, private schools were mandated to reserve 25 percent of their seats for children belonging to economically and socially disadvantaged sections. This provision aims to promote inclusivity and equality in education. It would ensure that underprivileged children have access to quality learning opportunities.
He said that Children from disadvantaged backgrounds and special categories were eligible for these reserved seats. In compliance with the directives of the High Court, all private schools must prominently display admission notifications on their notice boards, main gates and key public locations to ensure widespread public awareness. Schools cannot deny admission to any eligible candidate and in cases where applications exceed the reserved quota the admissions would be granted through a lottery system.
He said that to support this initiative, the government reimburses private schools for tuition fees or the per-student expenditure incurred in government schools, whichever is lower. This effort was part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that children from marginalized backgrounds receive quality education in private institutions while fostering social inclusion and educational equity.
He said that to facilitate transparency and compliance with the RTE Act, private schools must reserve 25 percent of their seats for eligible children and adhere to a fair admission process. Parents and guardians were given a minimum of 30 days before the admission process begins to submit applications. If the number of applicants exceeds the available reserved seats, a lottery-based selection process would be conducted.
He further said that for more details or clarifications, individuals may contact the respective Block Elementary Education Officer, the Deputy Director of District Elementary Education Office, or the Director of Elementary Education, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-1, at 0177-2658044, 2812464, or via email at eleedu-hp@gov.in.
