Punjab initiates first step to reserve 25% seats in pvt schools for disadvantaged groups

All the private schools across Punjab have to mandatorily register themselves on the portal by January 12, the order stated. (Representational Photo)

The Punjab education department has finally initiated the first step to implement the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act’s Section 12 (1)(c), which makes it mandatory for private schools to reserve 25 per cent seats for children from weaker and disadvantaged groups.

In an order issued Tuesday, the Punjab education department has announced the launch of the school registration portal, on which the private schools across the state have to register and provide clear details of underprivileged children admitted in their school under the 25 per cent reservation quota. The portal launched by the Punjab government is now live, and can be accessed on the URL: http://www.rte.epunjabschool.gov.in. Parents can also access the portal to check the number of seats available in a particular school.

The decision comes after the Punjab government was rapped by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for delaying the implementation of the RTE, especially the mandatory 25 per cent seat reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in private schools. After the court pressure, the government issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for admissions but the portal launch to keep a check on private schools was pending for a long time.

In 2009, the Parliament passed the RTE Act, ensuring all children aged six to fourteen access to basic education. It mandates that private unaided schools allocate a minimum of 25 per cent of their entry-level seats to students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, under the Section 12(1)(c). However, most of the private schools in Punjab failed to implement it, inviting protests from activists.

According to the latest order issued Tuesday by director school education (secondary) Gurinder Singh Sodhi, the portal will “facilitate online registration of private, unaided schools for admission of children belonging to disadvantaged and weaker sections against at least 25 per cent seats reserved under the RTI”.

The order, addressed to all school heads and district education officers (DEOs) across Punjab, further states that all private schools must access the portal and register themselves. After registration, they have to furnish information mandatorily such as their total annual fee, entry class (on which RTE is applicable), number of total seats and reserved seats etc.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sodhi said: “The portal will start functioning fully from the upcoming 2026-27 session and it will be mandatory for private schools to reserve 25 per cent seats for underprivileged children, and furnish its details on the portal for parents to check and book a seat”.