In a recent development, Sharad Gosavi, the Education Director (Primary) at the Directorate of Education, Pune, has issued a revised advisory concerning admissions in schools under the 25 per cent reserved category of the Right To Education (RTE) Act.
The advisory highlights a significant change in the admission process, as previous applications from parents have been rendered invalid following directives from the Bombay High Court. Parents are now required to submit new applications for admissions, as old ones will not be considered, Gosavi emphasized.
To facilitate the application process, parents are instructed to file applications on the official portal: https://student.maharashtra.gov.in/adm_portal. Families with an income of less than Rs 1 lakh fall under the financially weaker section as mandated by the RTE. Gosavi advises parents to carefully select 10 schools of their preference while filling out the application forms with accurate information, including address, birth date, income certificate, and caste certificate.
Notably, students who have already secured admission through RTE are ineligible for further admissions, and parents are cautioned against uploading any documents online. Instead, specific documents are required for RTE admission, such as residential proof (electricity bills, ration cards), or a registered rental agreement with the Deputy Registrar for those without a house. Additionally, birth certificates from Gram Panchayat, NMC, or Municipal Council, caste certificates from relevant authorities, and income certificates below Rs 1 lakh for the years 2022-23 or 2023-24 issued by the Tehsildar, along with salary slips or certificates from company owners, are deemed necessary.
Furthermore, physically challenged students must provide a certificate indicating a 40 per cent handicap issued by the District Civil Surgeon or government hospitals. Parents are urged to stay updated by regularly checking the list on the online portal for any further updates.