Maharashtra Opens RTE Admissions For 2025-26
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The State School Education Department of Maharashtra has begun the online admission process for the Right to Education, or RTE, admission for the academic year 2025-26. From Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the parents of students who want admission for their kids under the 25% quota can fill up the application forms by accessing the designated portal at student.maharashtra.gov.in. The last date for submission of the filed-up application forms is January 27, 2025.
This step is in line with the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. According to Section 12(c)(1) of the Act, children from weaker and disadvantaged sections of society are entitled to free education in private unaided schools, self-financing schools, police welfare schools (unaided), and municipal self-financing schools. The RTE 25% quota seeks to offer equal opportunities in education to children who otherwise may not be able to access quality education because of socio-economic constraints.
The School Education Department has released a set of guidelines for parents in order to smoothen the processing of applications. This scheme is available for children from economically weaker sections, who are defined as children whose parents have an annual income of less than one lakh rupees. Parents are advised to select carefully up to 10 schools at the time of application, taking into consideration factors like proximity to their residence. As per the official notification, the distance between the residence and selected schools must be calculated using Google Maps, ensuring transparency and consistency.
Parents must complete the application process before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues. The Department has emphasized the importance of submitting applications well in advance, citing potential challenges such as internet connectivity problems or server overloads as the deadline approaches.
Accuracy of information is quite essential for entry into a school through RTE quota. Applicants have to be accurate, with regard to home address, the child’s date of birth, and any other required certificate such as income, disability certificates, if necessary, and the caste certificate. False or incomplete entries might lead to rejection of application. Additionally, parents are cautioned not to upload any documents during the online application process since this step is not required at this stage.
The other thing to be taken into consideration is that those children who have already been admitted in previous years under the 25% RTE quota are not eligible to reapply. Moreover, if any applicant attempts to provide false information to seek reapplication, then that admission will be cancelled. In addition, parents are also told to submit only one complete application per child as multiple submissions for the same applicant will lead to rejection.
The RTE admission process is aimed at creating an inclusive and quality education access for children belonging to marginalized sections of society. The Maharashtra government has, by reserving 25% seats in private and unaided schools, aimed to bridge socio-economic disparities in the education system.
Parents and other guardians are always encouraged to frequently visit the authorized website, in which further elaboration and further updates will come. The access portal is designed friendly and accessible while ensuring that the opportunity is not provided with undue difficulty among eligible families.
This year’s admission drive also reflects the government’s commitment to fostering educational equity and enabling children from disadvantaged communities to thrive in mainstream schools. The streamlined online application system and clearly defined guidelines are expected to minimize errors and enhance the efficiency of the admission process.
As the deadline approaches, the Maharashtra School Education Department reminds everyone of the importance of timely and accurate submissions. The 25% RTE quota continues to make a transformative impact in the lives of countless children, and this initiative remains a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to uphold the principles of the Right to Education Act and advance educational inclusivity for all.