We may discuss endlessly whether the recent government decision on school admissions would have a positive or negative effect on our young ones, the fact remains that the long drawn speculations over the issue would definitely come to an end. The Delhi Government has permitted schools to admit children as young as three or more for pre-school. Parents have also been granted a reprieve and they will not have to undergo interviews or face uncomfortable questions over their income or education while getting their wards admitted to school. The students admitted in pre-school will not be required to undergo another round of exams and interviews and they are to be automatically promoted to pre-primary.

The Delhi Government claims that the new guidelines are extremely friendly for children as well as parents, and that kids will no longer be harassed during the process of admissions. The government also warned schools of strict action if they fail to follow the guidelines. Parents have been assured that there are sufficient seats in all the recognized schools and that all children above three years of age would get admission in the schools. The schools have been disallowed from freely interacting with parents till the children are admitted in the school. Even the limited interaction allowed has been restricted to the process of verification of documents only. The schools have been granted considerable a degree of autonomy, although, at the same time, they are expected to be completely transparent in their functioning.

Also, the education department has set up a grievance cell, where the parents may voice their complaints over admission process irregularities being committed by the schools. There are, however, several schools that do not have the required infrastructure for pre-school, and they have been given three years’ time to create the necessary infrastructure. The guidelines would be applicable to all recognized private schools, including minority institutions.