Bihar Education Department Extends RTE Admission Deadline to April 10
The Bihar education department has announced an extension of the enrolment deadline for students selected under the Right to Education (RTE) Act until April 10. This decision was made on Friday, with officials also issuing directives to take strict action against private schools that fail to adhere to the mandatory 25% reservation for children from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections.
Directive from Primary Education Director
Primary Education Director Vikram Virkar has issued a comprehensive directive to all district education officers and district programme officers responsible for elementary education and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. This move comes in response to reports indicating that out of 70,155 students selected through an online randomisation process conducted on February 23, only 53,479 have been admitted so far. The original deadline for enrolment was set for March 20, but the low admission numbers necessitated this extension.
Ensuring Compliance with RTE Act Provisions
Under the RTE Act, all recognised private schools are legally required to reserve 25% of their seats for eligible students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The department has instructed officials to ensure the admission of the remaining 16,676 students by the revised deadline of April 10. Additionally, officials have been directed to forward proposals for penalties against schools that show laxity or indifference in implementing this crucial provision.
Final Opportunity for Admissions
Officials have emphasized that this extension will be treated as the final opportunity to complete the admission process for the selected candidates. The department is taking a firm stance to ensure that all eligible students receive their rightful education under the RTE Act, reinforcing the government's commitment to inclusive education and social equity in Bihar.
