The Tamil Nadu government has announced that the admission process for the 2025-26 academic year under the Right to Education (RTE) Act will commence on October 6, 2024. This move comes directly after the Union government released crucial funds, ending a period of uncertainty that had delayed the process.
The online admission portal will remain active for a special window until October 17, 2024, allowing parents to apply for the 25% of seats reserved in private unaided schools for children from economically weaker and disadvantaged sections.
Key Details for Parents
- Admission Dates: October 6 to October 17, 2024.
- Mode of Application: Entirely online through a dedicated portal.
- Participating Schools: Over 6,000 private schools are expected to upload their seat availability for entry-level classes.
As per the state government's guidelines, priority in the admission process will be given to specific categories of children, including:
- Orphans
- HIV-affected children
- Transgender children
- Children of scavengers (sanitation workers)
- Differently-abled children
The commencement of admissions follows the resolution of a financial stalemate between the state and central governments. The Union government had previously withheld Rs. 2,151 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, a component of which covers RTE reimbursements. This was linked to the state's refusal to adopt the three-language policy in PM Shri schools.
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Due to this lack of funds for reimbursing private schools, the Tamil Nadu government had postponed the RTE admissions for the 2025-26 academic year.
The deadlock was broken following legal interventions. The Madras High Court issued directions, later involved in Supreme Court proceedings, instructing the Union government to consider delinking the RTE component from the broader Samagra Shiksha scheme and disbursing the funds.
"In compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Madras High Court... the issue was examined with the approval of Union Education Minister, and it was decided... to release funds for the RTE entitlements," stated a Union government release.
School Education Secretary B. Chandra Mohan confirmed, "The government of India has now released the funds, thereby enabling the commencement of RTE admission for 2025-26 across Tamil Nadu."
Financial Breakdown of the Released Funds
The Project Approval Board sanctioned significant amounts for the RTE component:
For 2024-25: Rs. 604 crore was approved, with the central share (60%) being Rs. 362 crore.
For 2025-26: Rs. 585 crore was approved, with the central share being Rs. 351 crore.
Sources indicate that the state has received an initial instalment of Rs. 362.8 crore for the 2024-25 academic year and Rs. 87.8 crore for 2025-26. The overall release is approximately Rs. 700 crore, which has allowed the state to reopen the admission process.
Understanding the RTE Act and Reimbursement
The Right to Education Act, 2009, mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14. It requires private, unaided schools to reserve at least 25% of their entry-level seats for children from disadvantaged groups and economically weaker sections.
Private schools are reimbursed by the government for these students at a rate equivalent to the per-child expenditure in government schools or the school's tuition fee, whichever is lower. This funding is shared in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the state. The Act also mandates that any fees collected from RTE-eligible students must be refunded by the school within seven days.
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