The directorate of private schools in Chennai has received a record 2.5 lakh applications for 82,888 seats available under the Right to Education (RTE) Act this year. The seats are spread across 7,740 private schools in the state. This marks the highest number of applications in the past three years.
Application Process and Priority
According to S Suganya, director of private schools, parents can apply to at least five private schools within their neighbourhood. The final list of admitted candidates will be released next week. Under the RTE Act, private schools must reserve 25% of seats in entry classes, including LKG and Class I, for students from economically and socially weaker sections. The state government also gives priority to children of conservancy workers, HIV-affected individuals, differently abled children, and orphans.
Concerns Over Seat Misuse
Nandakumar, president of the Tamil Nadu Private School Association, stated that no other candidate can be enrolled in a seat meant for RTE students. He noted that some schools may illegally convert RTE seats to general category, but most leave such seats vacant. The Federation of Private School Association (FePSA) has written to the school education department suggesting that the number of schools a parent can apply to be reduced from five to two, considering the high application-to-seat ratio.
Recommendations for Vacant Seats
M Arumugam, president of FePSA, proposed that vacant seats in a school should first be filled from the selection list, then from the waiting list. If vacancies remain, eligible students from among the applicants to that school should be admitted in the order of the application list. Additionally, children whose parents do not attend the lottery at the concerned school during the draw of lots should not be included in the draw.
Historical Context and Trends
Admissions were postponed last year due to a delay in funds for RTE from the Union government. They were later conducted in October 2025 after the funds were released. In 2024, the state saw 1.74 lakh applications, and in 2023, it was 1.1 lakh. However, the number of seats has remained between 75,000 and 85,000 over the past three years.
Lottery System and Final Selection
After priority admissions, the directorate will conduct a lottery system for schools that receive more applications than available seats under the quota. Parents can view the selected list of candidates on the school notice boards.
