The Tamil Nadu government plans to get 1.5 lakh underprivileged students admitted under Right to Education (RTE) in the next academic year.

The RTE Act mandates 25% reservation in admission for children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections in all the self-financing schools at the entry level.

A senior School Education Department official said, “In 2017-18, 90,000 children were admitted as per RTE provisions, while in 2018-19, 1 lakh students benefited under RTE.” He said instructions were given to authorities about the 1.5 lakh students getting admissions this academic year. “To achieve this target, the government has made various facilities for the parents as well,” he added.

RTE applications will be made available in all private schools from the first week of April. “Online admissions will also be enhanced,” he said, adding arrangements have also been made for easier online applications from district and block level educational offices free of cost.The official said that the State has earmarked Rs 500 crore for reimbursement of fee to private schools for children admitted under RTE.

Tamil Nadu Teachers Association president PK Ilamaran said the RTE applications could be submitted from April 22 till May 15. He said valid applications received from children who are orphans, affected with HIV, transpersons and who have manual scavengers as parents would be given priority and admitted.

Stating that selection of candidates would be done in the presence of an officer deputed by the Chief Educational Officer of the district, Ilamaran said steps would also be taken to ensure transparency in the process.