Education is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status. It is a powerful tool that can transform lives and open doors of opportunity. Recognizing the importance of providing equitable education, the government of India implemented the Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2009 with the aim to provide equal educational opportunities and bridge the existing gaps in society.
Tamil Nadu state’s Right to Education (RTE) rule was implemented in 2010, which was designed to ensure that every child receives free and compulsory education until the age of 14. The primary objective of the RTE is to address the prevailing disparities in society based on class and caste, aiming to foster inclusivity. In Chennai, there are 392 matriculation schools that reserve 25% of their total seats for students under the RTE Act, specifically for classes up to Class 8.
During the 2022-23 academic year, Chennai witnessed the highest number of RTE applications in Tamil Nadu, with 29,000 applicants competing for 4,100 RTE seats. The covid pandemic has resulted in job losses and financial stress for many individuals, leading them to opt for RTE admission for their children. However, the final number of beneficiaries for the current academic year is yet to be determined, as confirmed by the Chief Education Office of the Chennai district.
Eligibility for securing RTE seats:
To be eligible for obtaining a Right to Education (RTE) seat in Chennai, children must belong to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and their family’s annual income from all sources should not exceed Rs 2 lakh. Additionally, priority for RTE admissions is given to candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and backward classes, aiming to address historical disadvantages and promote social inclusion.
Similar preference is also extended to children who fall under specific categories, including those who are orphaned, disabled, HIV-infected, children of scavengers, and transgender individuals. These measures aim to provide equal educational opportunities for marginalized and vulnerable groups, ensuring inclusivity and social upliftment.
About RTE application suitability:
The application process for RTE seats in Chennai begins during the months of April and May each academic year. Parents are allowed to apply to a maximum of five schools for the admission of their children to the entry-level class. However, as per RTE eligibility criteria, these schools must be within a one-kilometer radius of the applicant’s house.
Recently, the Madras High Court issued a directive that allows for the relaxation of the distance rule if the schools have vacant seats within the prescribed 25% quota. In such cases, applicants can apply for RTE seats beyond the one-kilometer radius.
Important info regarding RTE:
Admission: Securing an RTE seat can be more complex than it initially appears. Parents can only apply for the entry-level class and are not eligible for an RTE seat in any other class. Among the 392 schools in Chennai, only a limited number offer admission at the Class 1 level, while the majority of schools start from LKG (Lower Kindergarten). This lack of awareness often leads to parents missing out on the opportunity to admit their children to their preferred school under the RTE quota, seats are not available for candidates seeking admission in classes higher than the entry-level class of a school.
Age limit: For RTE admission in Tamil Nadu, the age limit for the LKG group is as follows: children must have completed 3 years of age and should be under 4 years of age as of March 31st, 2023. This criterion ensures that children are of an appropriate age to be admitted to the LKG (Lower Kindergarten) group under the TN RTE admission process. Parents and guardians should ensure that their children meet this age requirement while applying for RTE admission in Tamil Nadu.
Admission process: RTE admission process consists of two distinct processes, the application process, and the admission process. The application process is conducted online through the official website rte.tnschools.gov.in. However, the admission process itself is conducted offline in Tamil Nadu, requiring parents to physically visit the schools to obtain information about their RTE admission results.
Top 10 RTE schools in Chennai:
SCHOOL NAME | UDISC CODE |
1. St. Peters Matric.HSS, St.Thomas Mount | 33030903014 |
2. St. JOHNS MATRIC. HR.SEC.SCHOOL, DURGA NAGAR, TAMBARAM | 33031403112 |
3. VELANKANNI MATRIC HSS ASHOK NAGAR | 33020801220 |
4. SACRED HEART MAT HSS, Kodungaiyur | 33020100112 |
5. SRI SANKARA MATRIC. HR.SEC. SCHOOL, PAMMAL | 33030902016 |
6. Indra Gandhi MS Adambakkam | 33030903114 |
7. GOOD SHEPHERD MATRIC. HR. SEC. SCHOOL, OLD PALLAVARAM | 33030903281 |
8. SRI VIVEKANANDA NURSERY & PRIMARY SCHOOL, Vyasarpadi | 33020300516 |
9. KING’S NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL Sholinganallur | 33031404309 |
10. DAV MAT HSS, Shenoy Nagar | 33020501616 |
Eligibility Criteria:
- The eligibility criteria for RTE admission in 2023 are as follows:
- The applicant must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.
- Preference is given to disabled children under this scheme.
- Applicants from various categories are considered, including BC-others, MBC, ST, SC-others, SC-arunthathiyar, OC, and DNC (Denotified communities).
- The list of selected students will be released on May 24, and those selected need to join their respective schools by May 29.
- Alternatively, parents can also apply for RTE seats by visiting the offices of the Chief Educational Officers.
Documents required for RTI admission:
The following documents might be required as listed below.
- Aadhar Card
- Passport size photo
- Bank account
- Ration card
- Community certificate for disadvantaged group candidate
- Income certificate
RTI required document issuing authorities:
CERTIFICATES | COMPETENT AUTHORITY |
Income certificate | Tahsildar, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu |
Community Certificate for BC and MBC | Deputy Tahsildar, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu |
Community Certificate for SC | Tahsildar, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu / Competent authority in case of children coming from other states |
Community Certificate for ST | RDO/Sub Collector, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu / Competent authority in case of children coming from other states |
Certificate for the Orphaned | District Social Welfare Officer, Department of Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme |
Certificate for HIV affected | Medical Officer authorized by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India |
Certificate for the Transgender identified | Medical Officer authorized by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India |
Children of Scavenging workers | Competent authority authorized by the Commissioners of the respective corporations, municipalities, Executive officers of the respective town panchayats, and Presidents’ of the respective village panchayats |
Children of Scavenging workers who are not employed by the Corporations, Municipalities, Town panchayats, and Village panchayats | The district collector or the authority authorized by District Collector |
Grievances and Redressal:
Parents have multiple avenues available to address grievances related to schools found violating the RTE norms in Tamil Nadu.
One option is to report the grievance to the Tamil Nadu State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights. Upon receiving a complaint, the commission typically sends notices to schools that are not complying with the RTE Act.
Secondly, parents can also report the issue to the Chief Education Officer or District Education Officer of Chennai.
Additionally, parents have the option to contact the student helpline number 14417, which specifically deals with grievances related to RTE in Tamil Nadu.
Upon receiving a complaint, the Tamil Nadu School Education Department authorities issue a notice to the concerned school, outlining the violations. The school will be given a month to provide a satisfactory explanation. If the response is unsatisfactory or if the school fails to respond, the authorities will conduct an inspection of the school. If the violations are found to be valid, the authorities can withdraw the state recognition of the school, while ensuring a fair opportunity for the school to present their case.
According to the Tamil Nadu Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011, if a school is found guilty after a hearing, it will lose its recognition starting from the following academic year. It is important to note that no school is allowed to operate without state recognition, as mandated by the RTE Act of 2009.
Thus, the RTE (Right to Education) is beneficial for children who come from economically weaker sections, marginalized communities, and disadvantaged backgrounds. It provides them with an opportunity to access free and compulsory education, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.
