Selection Method Fair and Square: Indian School

An Indian school have clarified that a standard method of student selection for KG was followed, after parents allegedly accused them of being unfair in the lucky draw process.

By Afshan Ahmed (afshan@khaleejtimes.com)

Published: Sun 14 Feb 2010, 9:22 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:09 PM

The Sharjah Indian School, a popular choice for many Indian parents seeking an affordable Central Board Secondary Education (CBSE) system for their children, held a draw to allocate 250 kindergarten seats on February 12.

The school had informed the parents of the time of the draw.

Some parents who arrived late said they were not given an opportunity to participate and were unaware that they had to be present during the draw.

R.K. Nair, principal of the community school, said the system has been in place for many years and parents  need to be present to segregate the  applications.

“We first separate the sibling applicants that are guaranteed a seat,” he said.

“Then we include the remaining parents for the draw.

The school issued over 1,000 forms starting January 21 and parents had to submit completed forms by January 25.

“We received only 828 complete submissions,” Nair, said.

Nissar Thalangara, General Secretary of the Indian Association in Sharjah that runs the school, said even after applying, parents may not necessarily want the seat. “If they have applied to multiple places and have got an admission in another school, we cannot include them in the draw,” he said.

“It happens in all schools, where the parent is expected to be present for it  to be fair.”

Some parents also complained that they were not allowed into the school post 9am.

Peer Mohammed, a parent who was present on Friday, said there the entire programme was conducted properly and in the presence of school administrators and the applicants.

“The draw began later than we were told because some parents got delayed,” he said.

Around 620 people gathered at the school on Friday. Nair said some parents who came after 10.30am were stopped by the security as it would be unjust to parents who came on time.

Parents have criticised the selection process that leaves the fate of the child to a lucky draw. But Asian school authorities who are facing an oversubscription in lower classes say it is  the only method that gives a fair chance to all parents.

In a poll by Khaleej Times, 82 per cent parents said they were facing difficulty in securing a seat in kindergarten at an Asian school.

More than 76 per cent said they prefer an interview system to a lucky draw to secure a seat.

But 80 per cent said they look at intervention by the education authority, to open up more schools, and a double shift as the long term solution to the capacity constraint.