Education Inequality: The Bitter Reality of Private School Admissions

Amid ongoing debates over education inequality, a stark contrast has emerged in India’s school system. While private schools are seen as gateways to better opportunities, children from economically weaker sections often find themselves excluded or marginalised. Reports from cities like Delhi and Noida reveal that hundreds to thousands of RTE-reserved seats go vacant each year, raising tough questions about whether the spirit of the Right to Education (RTE) Act is truly being upheld or whether the system continues to prioritise “ameer aur gore bache pehle” the rich and privileged over the poor :-



In the 2025-26 academic year, thousands of seats earmarked for children from economically weaker sections (EWS) in private unaided schools in Delhi remained empty even though more seats were available than the previous year. Out of 33,212 EWS seats, 3,506 were unfilled, highlighting a worrying trend where policy intent fails to translate into actual enrolment for the most vulnerable.

Similarly, in Noida and Ghaziabad, nearly one-in-six RTE seats went vacant, despite multiple rounds of counselling. Officials pointed to logistical barriers such as distance criteria and lack of nearby eligible schools, but parents also reported discouragement from some institutions, indicating deeper systemic obstacles in ensuring equitable access.

The RTE Act, enacted in 2009, mandates that 25% of entry-level seats in private unaided schools be reserved for economically weaker and disadvantaged children. The law aims to give every child free, quality education regardless of economic background. However, gaps in policy implementation persist.

Parents often face hurdles such as complex documentation, long travel distances to eligible schools, and lack of awareness about admission processes. These soft barriers disproportionately affect low-income families, leading many to abandon private admissions and turn instead to government schools.

Reports from parent groups suggest that compliance with RTE is far from uniform. For example, in Delhi, parents have alleged that 15,000-plus children were denied their rightful EWS seats over years due to alleged irregularities, including manipulation of admissions data and reluctance from schools to enrol poor children. Such claims underscore how the system can sometimes work against the very families it is designed to help.

In other cases, private institutions have even been found to admit children under false pretences, with admissions later cancelled when income certificates were proved fraudulent pointing to both desperation among parents and weaknesses in verification systems.

Education activists insist that without stronger oversight, community awareness, and smoother implementation, the promise of equal opportunity will remain unfulfilled. This includes ensuring that once RTE seats are allocated, children are actually admitted and supported through their schooling years rather than left out or discouraged through procedural hurdles.

They argue that strict enforcement of the law, better support for families navigating the process, and accountability for schools are essential steps toward realising the constitutional right to education for all children regardless of economic status.

1. What is the RTE Act?
   
   The Right to Education Act (2009) mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 and requires private unaided schools to reserve 25% of seats for economically weaker sections.
2. Why are reserved seats going vacant?
   
   Vacancies arise due to documentation issues, school distances, lack of awareness, and sometimes reluctance from schools to admit EWS students.
3. What happens if seats remain unfilled?
   
   Vacant seats represent lost opportunities and highlight gaps in policy execution and oversight.