RTE Admissions Tighten School Choice Within 1 Km, Activists Warn Many Children May Lose Seats
New rules make nearby school selection compulsory under the 25% quota, raising concerns for families in areas with fewer options.
Maharashtra has revised the admission rules under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, limiting school options for children applying through the 25% quota to institutions located within a one-kilometre radius of their residence. The change is expected to significantly impact families from disadvantaged and weaker sections, especially in areas where schools are not easily available nearby.
Under the updated system, parents will now be shown schools only within a one-kilometre distance while filling the online admission form. Earlier, the search radius was wider, and activists point out that the RTE Act itself places responsibility on the government to ensure access to schools within one kilometre for Classes I to V, and within three kilometres for Classes VI to VIII.
Mumbai-based RTE activist Hemangi Joshi has warned that the new restriction could prove harmful for children living in regions where no school exists within the mandated radius. She said the rule may become detrimental to the education of children from weaker sections, as many areas simply do not have schools within one kilometre.
The revised process also makes document submission stricter. Parents will need to upload key documents during the online application, including the child’s birth certificate, residence proof, and other required certificates depending on category. Schools will verify addresses based on Aadhaar-linked details, and officials have clarified that misuse of documents could lead to cancellation of admission and action against those responsible.
Activists have also raised concerns about implementation challenges. Many parents from economically weaker sections may not be tech-savvy enough to upload documents properly, while internet access remains an issue in rural pockets. Earlier, document verification was done at designated facilitation centres, but now incomplete applications could face rejection at the form stage itself.
Another key issue highlighted by school associations is the pending reimbursement burden. Representatives have pointed out that the government owes large dues to private schools for admissions granted under the RTE quota over the years. They have urged the state to clear payments before introducing major procedural changes.
The revised rule is likely to bring tighter control over admissions, but it has also triggered debate over whether it will reduce access for the very children the RTE framework was meant to support.
