Govt taking action against schools defaulting on EWS quota: Minister

New Delhi, Feb 18 (UNI) Dismissing allegations that the Delhi Government was ''going soft'' on public schools which were defaulting on EWS free ship admission quota, Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said stern action is being taken against such institutions.

''The statement which appeared in certain sections of the media today, is totally baseless, false and misleading.... Action has been taken against public schools which have not admitted children under 20 per cent quota prescribed for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the society,'' Mr Singh said.

''The government is determined to ensure that public schools, abide by its orders for admitting children belonging to EWS category,'' he added.

The Minister said if any school did not fulfill the obligation, the government could even de-recognise such schools.

He said EWS initiatives were taken by the Delhi Government and notification was issued on January 25, 2007 to this effect.

All private recognised unaided schools which had been allotted land by Government agencies-- DDA, L&DO and GNCTD-- were mandated to admit the children belonging to EWS category under 20 per cent freeship quota.

The order was stayed by the High Court on November 19, 2007 and directed that school needs to file affidavit and give 10+5 per cent seats to economically weaker sections under EWS quota.

''In fact, 181 public schools (which had been allotted land by government agencies) who had defaulted in EWS category addmission during last academic year 2007-08, had been served showcause notices, asking them to explain as to why they should not be de-recognised,'' Mr Singh said.

He stated that there were about 303 public schools, which had been given land by the government at concessional rates for setting up schools, which admitted 7,543 children in nursery class during 2007-08.

''This puts the figure at 12.5 per cent of the total admissions made by these schools,'' he added.

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