Jaipur Parents Protest Pending RTE Admissions as New Session Guidelines Announced
Parents of students selected under the Right to Education (RTE) programme in Jaipur have raised urgent concerns over pending admissions in private schools from the previous academic year. Their demands come at a critical time, as the state education department has just issued fresh RTE admission guidelines for the 2026–27 academic session, with applications scheduled to open on February 20.
Representative Body Highlights Administrative Failures
The Sanyukt Abhibhavak Sangh, a representative body of aggrieved parents in the city, issued a statement on Monday detailing the unresolved issues. According to the group, the RTE admission process for the 2025–26 session was not completed, leaving thousands of children without admission despite securing seats through the official process.
The parents' body has put forth several key demands:
- Immediate completion of all pending RTE admissions for the 2025–26 session.
- Strict punitive action against private schools that have refused admissions.
- Postponement of the new RTE process until old cases are fully resolved.
- Accountability for the educational losses suffered by children due to delays.
Spokesperson Voices Frustration Over Systemic Issues
Abhishek Jain Bittu, spokesperson of the Sanyukt Abhibhavak Sangh, emphasized the scale of the problem. "Admissions of at least 40,000 students are still pending in the state from last year's admission process," he stated. "Parents tried reaching out to block and district-level officials of the education department, but no concrete action was taken. In such a situation, announcing a new process ridicules those students who were out of school for almost a year."
Parents have expressed deep frustration, alleging that this situation represents not only an administrative failure but also a direct injustice to the futures of poor and middle-class children. One parent, requesting anonymity, shared a poignant concern: "The whole academic session passed, and my children are still sitting at home. Who is accountable for this delay and the loss of the academic year?"
Threat of Protests if Demands Are Not Met
In response to the lack of progress, parents have warned of potential protests. They stated that if the state government does not halt the new admission process and address the backlog, they will take to the streets this month to voice their grievances. This move underscores the growing tension between educational authorities and families relying on the RTE programme for their children's schooling.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges in implementing the RTE Act effectively, particularly in ensuring timely admissions and holding private schools accountable. As the deadline for new applications approaches, the resolution of these pending cases remains a critical issue for educational equity in Jaipur and across the state.
