Odisha Govt Launches Portal For 25 pc Reservation Of Poor Students In Pvt Schools

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to provide equality in educational opportunities and ensure free education for the poor and disadvantaged students, the School and Mass Education Department launched an online RTE-Paradarshi portal at the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) office in the Capital City on Wednesday.

According to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RCFCE) Act, all private schools which have obtained Certificate of Recognition (CoR) from the government will have to register with  www.rteparadarshi.odisha.gov.in and accept 25 % admission of the financially weaker students.

School and Mass Education Minister Sameer Ranjan Dash, who unveiled the portal,  said the registration of the private schools in the portal will be ensured by the district education officers. The selection of eligible students will be done through an online lottery system after verification of their documents to maintain transparency in admission.

"The State government intends to create an inclusive and integrated schooling system. Private unaided schools will be mandated to reserve at least 25% of the seats in their entry classes for the children coming from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds," said Dash.

"Parents or guardians of the eligible children will have to visit the portal and select from multiple schools for admission of their children as per the choice and complete other formalities, " he further said.

Of the 25 % seats, 10 % will be reserved for children belonging to SC/ST and SEBC categories. As many as 5 % will be reserved for the children not having any home or settled place or those belonging to disadvantaged sections. Similarly 10 % seats will be reserved for the children whose parents belong to BPL category or listed in any poverty alleviation programme of the government.