Bangalore: The extent of the demand for better education in Bangalore Rural district was revealed by the number of applications for admissions in private schools under the RTE quota. It is seven times the number of seats. The ratio is relatively better in Bangalore Urban where the number of applications is double the number of seats.

As per statistics provided by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the highest number of applications were received in Bangalore North — 35,948 for 13,238 seats. In Bangalore South, there are 32,440 applications for 17,513 seats. In Bangalore Rural, however, 17,353 applications have been received for 2,313 seats.

Explaining the ratio, K.M. Gururaj, Deputy Director of Public Instruction, Bangalore (Rural) said, “The number of seats under RTE quota is limited because there are few private schools.”

Some officials in the department insisted that the demand projection is “inflated” because several parents have filed multiple applications in as many schools as possible.

Schools are expected to first shortlist applications on the basis of annual income of parents. Priority is given to parents with annual income below Rs. 1 lakh. Preference will be given to applicants living in the ward. If the number of applications is more than the number of seats, schools have to conduct a lottery. Else, applications of parents with annual income between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 3.5 lakh will be considered.

In order to address the problem of fake income certificates, DPI issued a circular on Wednesday saying schools should invite objections from the public after preparing the list of selected candidates. The final list should be submitted to the education department only after the objections are addressed.

Meanwhile, RTE Task Force convener Nagasimha G. Rao has alleged that some schools are conducting the lottery in a non-transparent manner. “Some parents have complained that schools are not inviting them for the lottery process. Schools say it is the responsibility of the Block Education Officer (BEO) to invite parents. BEOs say it is the school’s responsibility,” he said.