UP govt ensures timely school admissions for underprivileged children

Lucknow : In a major stride towards transforming the education sector, the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led UP government has achieved a significant milestone under its flagship ‘Mission Shiksha’ initiative. Focused on providing quality education to children from underprivileged and marginalised sections, substantial efforts under the Right to Education (RTE) Act have yielded remarkable results.

During the first phase of the application process, conducted from December 1 to December 19, over 1.32 lakh applications were received, underscoring the initiative’s growing impact

Notably, the state government is making efforts this year to ensure that no underprivileged child faces even a single day’s delay in their education. By facilitating timely school admissions, the government aims to commence regular classes from the first day of April.

In this first phase, parents from disadvantaged and underprivileged families have shown enthusiastic participation, with the highest number of applications received from Varanasi (10,278), Lucknow (8,714), and Kanpur Nagar (8,276).

The government has now expedited the process of verifying these applications to ensure that children receive their rightful access to education without delay. This historic initiative by the government has sparked a wave of hope and transformation in Uttar Pradesh’s education sector, opening the doors of education for every child.

Out of the total 1,32,446 applications received from all districts, Varanasi tops the list with the highest number of applications (10,278), followed by Lucknow in second place (8,714). Similarly, Kanpur Nagar ranks third (8,276), Aligarh fourth (4,880), and Agra secures the fifth position (4,626), showcasing strong participation from these regions.

The UP government has issued clear instructions to districts regarding pending applications at the BEO and BSA levels, emphasizing the need to complete the process promptly to ensure children’s rights. Officials have been directed to prioritize verification of RTE applications and complete the process by December 22 as the portal will automatically close on December 23.

To ensure timely enrollment of children, the application process for the 2025-26 academic session has been divided into four phases, commencing respectively on December 1, January 1, February 1, and March 1, with applications accepted until the 19th of each month. Following the submission of applications in the first phase, the verification process is underway. Verification for applications received in subsequent phases will begin promptly within the specified timelines.

In the 2022-23 academic session, 71,214 children were enrolled under this scheme, whereas in the 2024-25 session, the number surged significantly to 1,14,196 children admitted to unaided, recognized private schools.

Additionally, by the 2024-25 session, over 5 lakh children across the state were receiving education in private schools. Notably, during these two fiscal years, the Yogi government disbursed Rs 436 crore towards fee reimbursement, facilitating seamless admission for underprivileged children in private schools.

Minister of State for Basic Education (Independant Charge) Sandeep Singh informed that the dates for the lottery and enrollment for each phase under the RTE (Right to Education) Act are fixed. The district administration is also providing support to simplify the enrollment process by offering necessary documents such as income certificates, caste certificates, and residence certificates. The government aims to ensure that no child’s admission is delayed, allowing them to begin their regular studies on time, he pointed out.

He appealed to parents to prepare the required documents for their children enrollment in time and actively participate in the application process. “To ensure that no child is deprived of education, all parents should make full use of this opportunity and cooperate with the government in providing quality education to children”, he stated.