School admissions: Lots for EWS-DG category declared

New Delhi: The computerised draw of lots for admission to entry level classes under the economically weaker section and disadvantaged group (EWS-DG) category for 2018-19 academic year were declared on Thursday night, ending the wait and confusion among parents.

The computerised process was delayed twice, first on March 7 and then on March 8, It was finally scheduled to be declared on March 15. The Delhi government said that it has been delayed in order to comply with the Delhi high court’s order on EWS admissions.

The court had asked the DoE “to ensure that any unfilled seat under the EWS quota shall be filled from among the pending applications for the academic year 2017-18. It was hearing a petition on the unfilled seats for the academic year 2017-18, after almost 18,000 seats under the category had remained vacant.

This year, 1,28,000 applications were received for 45,000 seats in 1,700 private schools in the city under the EWS/DG category. More than 43,000 candidates were selected in the first draw of lots on Thursday.

There was confusion among the parents on Thursday morning as there was no news from the Directorate of Education (DoE) whether the process will be conducted or not.

Meanwhile, Sumit Vohra, founder, admissionsnursery.com, an online forum for parent community, said, “Some of the parents did not block seats in the general category as the schools did not have a fee refund policy  or asked for fees before February 15 and still did not get selected in EWS category, are feeling dejected and now awaiting the second EWS list.”

According to the guidelines, 25 per cent of the seats are supposed to be reserved in all schools for this particular category.

While those belonging to families with annual income less than Rs 1 lakh can seek admission under the EWS category, the DG category applicants include- SC, ST, OBC, non-creamy layer, physically challenged, orphan and transgender and all children living with or affected by HIV.