Many private schools and PU colleges in Karnataka start admissions before the scheduled time

Parents feel that the negligence of the government and the greed of the private educational institutions every year causes the admissions to start illegally before the official schedule. | Photo Credit: file photo

With four months left to the end of the 2024-25 academic year and the government yet to release the official admission schedule for the next academic year, many private schools and pre-university colleges in the State have started admissions for 2025-26. in violation of existing laws.

In fact, some private schools invited applications in September, 2024, and completed the admission process in November itself. Some have told parents to pay the next year’s tuition fees before January 30, 2025.

Parents feel that the negligence of the government and the greed of the private educational institutions every year causes the admissions to start illegally before the official time.

When it should start

The academic year 2024-25 in Karnataka will end on April 10, after which the Department of Education and School Education (DSEL) will issue an order regarding the enrollment of students for the academic year 2025-26. As a rule, schools and colleges in the State should start the registration process only at this time.

However, it has been noted that this principle is often violated. Schools also announce on their websites the last date of payment of fees and other information on purpose. Some have announced on their website that they will be taking entrance exams in February.

“Private educational institutions are exploiting parents and children by starting the admission process early. Some rich parents are also guilty of this. Parents pay exorbitant fees to enroll their children in schools before the due date. This will only create unhealthy competition between children. The government should immediately stop this practice,” urged Malathi, a parent in Jayanagar, Bengaluru.

Even in PU colleges

With three months left for the class 10 exams, some private PU colleges have also started taking admissions in the first PU. “There are few seats left, pay in advance and book seats for your children now,” said the website of another PU college. Those who pay early are registered in a separate record and seats are guaranteed.

“My son is studying in class 10 in a prestigious school in Banashankari II Stage in the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) curriculum. However, the school management is already pressurizing me to secure my class 11 seat by paying the fee early. If I fail to do so, I will not be given a seat. So I don’t know what to do,” said the parent who did not want to be named.

“The government issues a notification regarding the registration of schools in April. However, by that time, private schools and PU colleges will have completed admission by paying double the fee. No list rules are followed in these schools and colleges. Therefore, there is a situation where socially and economically backward children cannot join these schools. The government has ignored this,” said Padmanabha, a resident of Chamarajpet.

“Previously, many schools in Bengaluru were under the Right to Education Act-2009, so schools did not start registration without government orders. However, as the RTE Act is being amended by the Government in 2019, no private school in Bengaluru is in the list of neighborhood schools. Schools that have used this start registering before the allotted time,” said Mamata Kulkarni, a parent.

A scene for parents to complain about

Meanwhile, the Committee for Coordinating Private Schools and Parents’ Schools of Karnataka has decided to complain about the private educational institutes that have started admissions before the stipulated time. “The petition will be sent to the Chief Minister to take action against the schools and colleges,” said Yogananda, secretary of the committee.

“Like every year, online applications have been invited from January this year as well and the 31st is the last day for applications. There was a need for parents to invite applications. “The admission of students will be done after conducting entrance exams,” said the principal of the private school.

Talking to A HinduKV Trilokchandra, Commissioner of DPI, said: “Officials have been instructed to conduct a thorough inspection of the schools that started registration before the government’s order and after receiving complete information, notices will be sent to those schools.”