Bengaluru: Seven years ago (2012) when the state government created 25% RTE free quota in the private schools, over 2 lakh students had applied for the benefit. The number continued to increase till last year, but the state government’s decision to tweak the RTE rules has affected the admissions this year. According to the latest data available, this year over 64% RTE seats are vacant.
As per the new RTE rules, the free seat quota have been abolished in those wards/areas where there are government primary schools. This brought down the RTE free seat number from over 1.50 lakhs to mere 17,720 this year and now even after three rounds of seat allotment, 11,400 seats are still vacant.
According to the authorities, in Madhugiri and Uttara Kannada district, not even a single RTE admissions have been done this year.
Authorities observe that the state government’s decision to open 1,000 English medium schools too would have impacted the RTE admission.