PANAJI: As the State government plans to make distance of student’s residence from the school the primary criterion, admissions to educational institutions on ‘first come, first serve’ basis will soon be done away with in the revised guidelines being worked out for primary to higher secondary level, with an emphasis on the concept of neighbourhood schooling. Once the guidelines come into force, highest preference would be given to students or candidates residing closest to the school.
In case of admission at primary level, first preference would be to given to student residing within the radius of 0-1 kilometre; in case of middle school it would be 0-3 kilometres and 0-5 kilometres for high school, while in case of higher secondary it would be 0-8 kilometres. Preference will decrease as distance increases from the student’s residence to the school.
Nonetheless, only verbal mention of the place of residence would not be enough and various valid documents specifying residence proof would have to be produced at the time of admission.
The State Directorate of Education (DoE) has already begun with the process and the revised guidelines are expected to be issued within 8-10 days.
Speaking to The Goan Eevryday, a government official informed, “The State DoE has already started the work on formulating new guidelines for admissions right from primary level upto higher secondary level in the State. As per the guidelines, stress would be laid on the concept of neighbourhood schooling. Depending upon the distance, weightage would be given and marks will be allotted to students while giving admissions. Schools will not be able to follow the first come first serve criterion. As per the RTE Act, a child has to be given admission in a neighbourhood school which is easy to access.”
“The guidelines will make it difficult for the managements of schools to have complete hold over admissions, a few seats would be reserved for them”, said the official.
A DoE official also informed that this move would help in maintaining the enrolment in rural schools.
“Currently, though there are various families staying in rural areas, they prefer to send their children to city-based schools despite the long distance. And now if the distance of the school does not fit in the listed criterion, they will get lesser preference”, he stated.
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WHO GETS PREFERENCE >>
PRIMARY LEVEL
* First preference would be to given to student residing within the radius of 0-1 kilometre
MIDDLE SCHOOL
* 0-3 kilometres
HIGH SCHOOL
* 0-5 kilometres
HIGHER SECONDARY
* 0-8 kilometres
(Preference will decrease as distance increases from student’s residence to school)
REVISED GUIDELINES
* The State Directorate of Education has begun with the process and is expected to be issued within 8-10 days
