Ahmedabad city DEO seeks documents from two-shift schools, warns of action for non-compliance, ETEducation
Ahmedabad: The city district education officer (DEO) directed private schools operating in two shifts to submit approval documents and detailed information about their shift-wise functioning. Schools were instructed to present the required documents in person by June 17, failing which action will be taken as per rules.
The move followed complaints that several private schools in Ahmedabad and other parts of the state, despite running in two shifts, declared only a single shift while reporting student strength under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Under the RTE Act, self-financed schools are mandated to reserve 25 per cent of their total seats for students from economically weaker and middle-income families.
Every year, before announcing RTE seats, district education officers and district primary education officers collect data from schools regarding the number of students studying in Class 1. Based on this information, the total number of seats eligible under the RTE scheme is calculated and the admission process is initiated. However, it came to light that some schools deliberately suppressed information about their second shift to avoid allocating additional RTE seats.
Following reports that even reputed private schools were indulging in such irregularities, the DEO’s office issued a circular to all schools, asking them to submit comprehensive details about the number of shifts being run. Schools must provide shift-wise and class-wise data, including the number of divisions functioning in the morning shift and the corresponding RTE seat allocation.
Officials indicated that in the coming days, parents applying under the RTE scheme may also be given the option to choose the preferred shift for admission. This would ensure greater transparency and fairness in the admission process.
Due to non-disclosure of second-shift details, many students were allegedly allotted seats only in the afternoon shift, leading to complaints from parents. With the latest directive, authorities aim to prevent such malpractice and ensure strict compliance with RTE norms by private schools.
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