Admissions are testing times for parents as well since educational institutions grill them on their education, profession and income to decide if child's background is suitable enough for the school
Admissions are testing times for parents as well since educational institutions grill them on their education, profession and income to decide if child's background is suitable enough for the schoolu00a0
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| Stressed out: According to the Right to Education Act, schools cannot screen parents in order to give admission to their children. File pic |
For the past three weeks, Kalyani Nagar resident Arefa Shaikh (name changed on request), has been cursing her decision to become a pre-school teacher. Not because she is dissatisfied with her career but her choices have now meant that her only son stands a far lesser chance at getting an admission to a reputed school than his peers. The reason - both his parents are not considered professionals, as they do not hold post-graduate degrees or work in reputed MNCs.
Unfortunately, for her son Ayaan (name changed), though he may be a brilliant student, this has become a prerequisite for school admissions.
"My son is currently studying in a well-known school, but I want to move him as the fees has nearly doubled in three years and I can't afford it. I have filled the admission forms of three schools but have been told there isn't much hope, both from the school as well as my friends who had tried there. The schools want either prominent businessmen or professionals as parents. I did a montessori course after standard XII, as I wanted to become a teacher and my husband is a businessman but not well-known, so there is hardly any chance," Shaikh said.
Last year, one of her friends had to tutor her son at home for six months as no reputed school was willing to admit him because of her qualifications and she refused to settle for 'second-best' options.
In the second part of MiD Day series on violations of the RTE Act during admissions to schools, MiD DAY is taking up the issue of screening of parents' educational qualifications, professions and income before deciding on the right candidates for admission.
After receiving many complaints from parents, MiD DAY reporters called up schools posing as parents and enquired about the admission process. We found that many schools asked for the educational qualifications of parents, their professions and the designations they held. In some cases, they indirectly asked for family income through questions like 'Would you be able to pay the entire admission fee in advance', or 'Would you face a problem if the management for some reason decides to hike the fee during the same year', among others.
A parent whose son studies at Indira Kids in Aundh, on request of anonymity, said that she was asked to fill in her educational qualifications in the form while seeking admission a year ago.
"My husband and I had to fill in our education details. Though we failed to understand why they wanted to know about our education when it was for my child's admission. But I guess it helps them decide on selecting the child, as there are always more forms than seats," she said.
When MiD DAY contacted the principal Shital Dhruva, she said that there was nothing wrong in asking for the parents' qualifications.
"It helps the school to know about the parents of the child, as they can help us in the development of the school. We do not refuse admission on the basis of the parents' qualification even though we ask for it."
Another parent whose child is studying in Poddar International School said that she was asked for proof of her educational qualifications at the time of admissions. MiD DAY made an independent inquiry and found that the school did ask for proof of last held degrees by the parents.
However, Shaikh Ishtiyaque Ahmed, co-ordinator of the school, justified it by saying that every school asked for parents' qualification and there was no harm in it. "The parents can be of great help to us in the time of need. If a parent is a doctor, they can help us in case of an emergency. During PTA meetings, the parents can give some helpful tips and suggestions. We do not see any harm in knowing the parents' qualification beforehand," Ahmed said.
At Symbiosis School, too, parents were asked for educational qualifications as well as details of their profession, a few complained.
Prinicipal Leena Chaudhary admitted that educational certificates were asked but to know the kind of families the children belonged to, as the school could then help the parents accordingly in the development of the child's education.
"Firstly, we get to know the parents and if they can be of help to us and secondly, depending on the child's family background we can help the parents in guiding the child at home," Chaudhary said.
After parents complained of screening at the New India High School, MiD DAY, in an inquiry, found that parents seeking admission for their wards to playschool might have to face informal assessment.
However, when called just a few minutes after the inquiry, director of school Meena Chandavarkar denied all allegations that either students or parents were interviewed during admissions.
"We are particular about this as we do not believe in either organising tests or interviews for the child. In fact, parents interview us as they are sending their child to our school," Chandavarkar said.
