THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, April 10: Parents in Jharkhand’s Palamu district are facing difficulties securing admission for their children in government primary and middle schools. Many are being turned away due to the absence of mandatory details such as UDISE number, PEN, and APAR.
Even for admissions to Classes 1 to 4, schools are reportedly refusing entry if these records from previous institutions are not available.
Documents Not Enough
Parents say they carry all required documents, including Aadhaar cards (both parent and child), passport-size photographs, and bank passbooks. Despite this, admissions are being denied.
The issue mainly affects children who previously studied in private schools that do not have UDISE, PEN, or APAR records.
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Sources describe the denial of admission on these grounds as “retrogressive,” especially when many parents are shifting their children from private to government schools for elementary education.
They argue that such migration should be encouraged to improve enrolment in government schools.
Call for Relaxation in Rules
Parents have demanded that the admission process be simplified and that the requirement for UDISE, PEN, and APAR be relaxed. They say this would strengthen trust between families and government schools.
An example cited is a government middle school in Shahpur, which allegedly refused admission to a Class 2 student due to the absence of these records.
Parents are now looking to Palamu Deputy Commissioner Sameera S for relief. Earlier, the DC had directed officials not to insist on UDISE, PEN, and APAR for students applying to CM Schools of Excellence entrance tests.
That move was widely appreciated as student-friendly and helped many applicants.
Concerns Over Private Schools
Sources also pointed out that many small private schools lack UDISE recognition due to strict norms, especially related to land requirements. This could lead to their closure, affecting employment and local education access.
Parents have urged the district administration to issue clear orders to ease admission rules in government schools and ensure that no child is denied education due to technical requirements.