The Indian Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 has several path-breaking clauses. One of them section 12(1)(c) states that:
"(private schools) shall admit in class 1 (or pre-primary), to the extent of at least twenty-five per cent of the strength of that class children belonging to weaker section and disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood and provide free and compulsory education till its completion."
This powerful clause will open atleast 1 MILLION seats each year in unaided private school classrooms across India for children from poorer families.
From the academic year 2013-14, private schools must offer FREE (no fees) admission to atleast 25 percent of their classroom seats at the entry level for children aged 6 years or less from socially disadvantaged and economically weaker sections (EWS) in the neighbourhood.
But few citizens are aware of this historic provision for inclusive education. This wiki aims to share information to support eligible children to gain admission in these free seats in PRIVATE SCHOOLS which they are entitled to as a right for atleast 8 years of free elementary education.
For more details, please see admissions for carefully compiled information, as the central government does not track the admissions across states.
Please send in your queries, comments and suggestions to rightsbodhi@gmail.com. Also, please take the effort to support eligible children to gain admissions in schools and do spread the word.