EWS Admission – Delhi Govt Changes Distance Criteria from 1 km to 3 km

New Delhi, 19 July 2022– EWS Admission – The admission policy of the Delhi Government pertaining to EWS admission, and also the admission of students from DG and CWSN categories has been changed. The choice of the candidates seeking admission under EWS , DG and CWSN categories for first preference was earlier restricted to schools within a radius of 1 kilometer from their homes. However, now, the radius for choosing the first preference has now been extended to 3 kilometers from the students’ homes.

Note: The admissions are done through a selection process based on computerized draw of lots. 

EWS Admission – Overview of Changes for EWS, DG & CWSN Admissions in Delhi Private Schools

Order Issuing Authority	Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi Government
Eligible Students	EWS, DG, and CWSN category students
Eligible Classes	LKG, UKG and Class 1, that is, entry level classes.
Previous Limit for 1st Preference	Schools within 1 km from home
New Limit for 1st Preference	Schools within 3 kms from home
Policy Covered By	R.T.E. Act 2009

EWS Admission – Details of the Changed Admission Policy in Delhi

Changed Policy Regarding EWS Admission and Admissions to Other Categories

As per the policy made by the Delhi Government to implement the RTE Act, students from EWS (Economically Weaker Sections), DG (Disadvantaged Groups) and CWSN (Children With Special Needs) categories are eligible to get admitted in private schools at the entry level. Here, ‘entry level’  means classes up to lower kindergarten (LKG), upper kindergarten (UKG), and Class 1.

In the admission process, which is based on a computerized draw of lots, students residing in the immediate locality of the schools were favored, since students were asked to choose a school within the radius of 0 to 1 kilometer from their homes. Thus, the chances of those students who lived within 0 to 3 kilometers of the school’s immediate neighborhood to get admitted to them were minimized. However, as per the changed policy, the radius for the students to choose their first preference has been extended up to 3 kilometers from their homes.

According to administrative authorities, this decision was taken so that more eligible candidates from these categories can avail the opportunity provided by the RTE Act. 

Himanshu Gupta, Education Director at the Delhi Government, said, “In order to ensure uniform opportunity to more and more desirous parents to seek admission of their wards under EWS, DG and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) category at entry-level classes in private unaided recognised school of their choice of nearby locality, a measure is being adopted by the DoE for making 0 to 3 km as first preference instead of 0 to 1 km in the interest of deserving eligible candidates.”

Procedure for EWS Admissions and Admissions to Other Categories

Selections for EWS admission and admission to other categories such as DG and CWSN are based on a process of computerized draw of lots. Previously, the choice of the candidates seeking admission under EWS, DG, and CWSN categories for first preference was restricted to schools within a radius of 1 kilometer from their homes. However, as per the changed policy for EWS admission, as well as admission to other categories, the radius for the students choosing their first preference has now been extended to 3 kilometers from their homes.

How does RTE Relate to EWS Admissions and Admissions Under Other Weaker Section Categories?

According to the Right To Education (RTE) Act 2009, all private unaided recognized schools, except the schools run by minorities, need to admit students belonging to weaker sections, disadvantaged groups, as well as children with special needs up to 25 percent of their total strength at the entry level classes. EWS admissions, as well as admissions to private schools under other weaker section categories DG and CWNG categories, are covered by this act.

Changed Policy for EWS Admissions and Admissions Under Other Weaker Sections Categories: A Summary

We may summarize the important aspects of these changes as follows:

• Delhi Government, as per the directives of the RTE 2009, has a policy of allowing admissions of students from EWS, DG and CWSN categories in private schools.
• Previously, the computerized draw system favored students from a school’s immediate locality because students had to choose a school within 1 km of their homes as their first preference. Now, they can choose a school within 3 kms of their homes as their first preference.
• This change in policy has been made to allow more eligible students from these reserved categories to get admissions in nearby private schools of their choice at the entry level.

FAQs

What is the RTE Act?

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, also known as the RTE Act, seeks to provide free and compulsory education to all children aged between 6 and 14 years in India. It has provisions such as offering infrastructural support to schools and students, promoting inclusivity in schools, prohibiting discrimination, regulating the quality of teachers and teaching, etc.

Are private schools covered by the RTE Act?

Yes. This act also states that all private unaided recognized schools, except the schools run by minorities, are obliged to admit students belonging to weaker sections, disadvantaged groups, as well as children with special needs up to 25 percent of their total strength at entry-level classes.

What are entry level classes?

Entry level classes mean classes including lower kindergarten (LKG), upper kindergarten (UKG) and Class 1, or from whichever of these three classes teaching at a school begins.

Are preschool and nursery classes also eligible for EWS admissions?

No. Preschool classes and nursery classes are not eligible for EWS, DG, and CWSN admissions.

Are students from EWS, DG, and CWSN categories in Delhi allowed to choose a private school as their first preference?

Yes. Students from EWS, DG and CWSN categories in Delhi seeking admission in private schools at entry-level classes are allowed to choose a school as their first preference.

How far does the first preference school have to be from students’ homes?

As per the latest policy changes by the Delhi Government, students from EWS, DG and CWSN categories can now choose a school within 3 kms from their home as their first preference, as opposed to the limit of 1 km which existed previously.