38 reasons why Arvind Kejriwal feels Delhi's private school admission rules are unjust

The Directorate of Education on 6 January has issued an order questioning private recognised schools in Delhi. The order demands that 38 added admission concessions/criteria be removed for it makes the process unfair, especially for elementary schoolers.

Previously on 8 December 2015, as the circular mentions, the Delhi AAP government's Education Directorate had instructed all such schools to come up with a policy that ensures 75% open seats to elementary level students. However, they found the below mentioned criteria "unfair". This circular, of course, serves as a retort.

The Directorate wants these schools to "remove the admission criteria as mentioned below and replace them with the criteria which shall be clear, well defined, equitable, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent".

1. Special ground (parents with proficiency in music, sports, national awardee etc.)

This criterion is not just as it is discriminatory to the other children seeking admission.

2. Transferable jobs / state transfers / IST

This criterion is required for admission in upper classes to give better chances and continuation of studies of a child. It is not just to give weightage for admission at the entry level classes.

Apart from it, an individual residing in particular locality for many years has a better right to get his ward admitted in the school in his locality rather than the individual who has shifted on transfer to that locality.

3. First born

This criterion shall lead to discrimination for the parents desirous to seek admission of his ward that is not first born.

4. Parents' education

India is a developing country and literacy rate is not 100%. Giving weight age to parents' education criteria is injustice to the children whose parents don't have good educational background. It leads to the inequality also.

5. School transport

One can't not be forced to use school transport and it depends on the need of parents. Compulsion to use school transport shall also put an extra financial burden on the parents.

6. Parent working in sister-concern school

The ward of Staff/Employees of any school concerned can have a right for admission to that school but extending the same benefits to the sister concern of that particular school will curtail the right of General Parents' wards.

7. Both parents are working

There is no merit to give weightage on this criterion. Equal opportunities of admission should be given to non-working/single parent working/both parents working.

8. First cousin of the child (parental / maternal)

This will create a homogenous group in a class/school which is not conducive for overall development of child.

9. School specific criteria

This criterion is a very wide interpretation. The school should have specified it which may be just, reasonable and transparent.

10. Status of child

This is illogical criterion as one can't assign the status to tiny tots.

11. Special ground if candidate is having proficiency in music and sports

It looks ridiculous to assign points for proficiency in music and sport to a child at the age of 3 to 6 years.

12. Any other specific category

This is vague criterion. The school should have specified it which may be just, reasonable and transparent.

13. Social/Noble cause

There is no standard parameter to determine it and is likely to be misused.

14. Mother's qualification 12th Passed

There is no merit to give weight age on this criterion. Equal opportunities of admission should be given to children irrespective of their mother's qualification.

15. Non-smoker parent

Child cannot be punished for the any particular habit of the parents so this is unjust.

16. Empirical achievements of the parents

Parents achievements should not be matter for admission of tiny tots as all the children have same rights.

17. First time admission seekers

There is no merit. Everyone is first time admission seeker to the entry level class.

18. First-come-first-get

The admission schedule has been fixed by the Department prescribing the dates for submitting application, displaying the list of selected children.

If there is no particular criteria is fixed for such admission the school may collect application up to the last date, if number of application are more than the seats it may go for draw of lots and make admission as per announced schedule.

19. Oral Test

Screening/Interview is not allowed so this is not a legal criterion.

20. Interview

Interview is not allowed so this not a legal criterion.

21. Professional field/expertise

Parents professional field should not be matter for admission of tiny tots as all the children have same rights.

22. Management Quota

Schools do not adopt standard procedure to admit students under this criterion. There are widespread allegations that this quota is misused by the schools by collecting capitation fee from the parents.

23. Date of Birth Certificate of Child from MCD/Affidavit

This cannot be the criteria for points. It is documentary proof for age.

24. Govt. employee

Parents professional should not be matter for admission of tiny tots as all the children have same rights.

25. Vegetarianism

Child cannot be punished for the any particular habit of the parents so this is unjust.

26. Special cases

This criterion is a very wide interpretation. The school should have specified it which may be just, reasonable and transparent.

27. Joint Family

This criterion is not practically determinable and as such there is no basis of connecting it to the admission process.

28. Non-alcoholic

Child cannot be punished for the any particular habit of the parents so this is unjust.

29. Age

Age criterion has already been specified for Entry Level Classes by the department therefore it is violative to the guidelines.

30. Certificate of last school attended/Marks of previous class

In the entry class admission, there is no certificate of last school attended and marks of previous class so it is illogical to give points to this criterion.

31. Proven track record of parents (international/national/state awardee)/Rural Development/Promotion of traditional art and craft/Sport etc

Parents proven track should not be matter for admission of tiny tots as all the children have same rights.

32. Gender

This is discriminatory.

33. Attitudes and values

It is undefined and likely to be misused.

34. ID Proofs and Address of the documents of the parents

Department has already specified the list of documents. It is a violation of departmental guidelines to give points to this criterion.

35. Language (speak only 2 points, write only 2 points, read only 2 points)

This is illogical to give points to this criterion. Small kids should be on equal footing in terms of their quality as entry level class is the threshold of learning.

36. Promotion/Recognition as specified in the school website and notice board

It is not clear and the specific criteria have not been put on website of the department. It is doubted to be misused.

37. Old parents (in case of siblings)

This is illogical and discriminatory.

38. Economic condition

The parents seeking admission in a particular school is aware of the fee structure of the school and willing to pay the same. Fee structure of the school is same for everyone in the school. So the economic condition does not matter.