Concerns raised over interview process for Jamshedpur school admissions

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Jan 24: Allegations have surfaced concerning the use of interviews in the admission process for general category children, particularly in private schools like Loyola School and St. Mary’s School in Bistupur. The management’s decision to conduct interviews, ostensibly to evaluate the literacy skills of selected children, has generated opposition from the Jamshedpur Abhibhavak Sangh.

In response to these concerns, the association has taken proactive measures by filing a complaint against the implicated private schools with the District Education Officer. Urgently, they have demanded a prohibition on the practice of conducting interviews for school admissions. The association cites Section 13(1) of the Right to Education Act (RTE)-2009, which explicitly prohibits schools from collecting per capita fees during the admission process and from imposing any financial burden on the child, parents, or guardians.

Furthermore, the association points to Section 13(2)(b) of the RTE-2009, indicating that imposing a monitoring fee can result in fines ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000. They argue that the use of interviews for admissions is in violation of these rules and provisions established by the RTE-2009.

Dr. Umesh Kumar, President of the Jamshedpur Parents Association, has submitted a formal demand letter to the District Education Superintendent. The letter brings attention to the alleged violation of RTE-2009 provisions and calls for an immediate ban on interviews for general category children selected in the entry class by Loyola and St. Mary’s School. Additionally, the letter urges an order to refrain from conducting interviews for entry class admissions in all other schools across Jamshedpur city. The association seeks strict adherence to the guidelines outlined in RTE-2009 to ensure fair, transparent, and unbiased admission processes for all students.