The Directorate of Primary Education has announced an extension of the deadline for filling online application forms for admissions under the Right to Education Act (RTE) in Maharashtra. The new deadline, now set for June 4, 2024, comes in response to public demand, despite the initial deadline of May 31, 2024.
This decision follows a series of developments in RTE admissions, including the introduction of new rules by the government aimed at addressing opposition from unaided private English schools. These rules prioritize government-run or government-aided schools, leading to a lukewarm response from parents and subsequent legal challenges. Notably, a court stay was granted on the implementation of the new rules.
According to the Directorate of Primary School Education, a total of 1,05,116 seats are available across 9,207 schools in Maharashtra. However, the government has received a staggering 2,26,673 applications statewide. In the Nagpur region alone, 655 schools offer 6,920 seats, yet a whopping 19,364 candidates have applied for admission.
While the number of applications received this year is substantial, it falls short of the figures from previous years. In the 2023-24 academic year, over 3.64 lakh applications were received, slightly lower than the 2022-23 figure of 2.82 lakh applications. These statistics reflect the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding RTE admissions in Maharashtra. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.