In 591 letters to schools, ministers,babus push ‘dear ones’ for admission

School authorities say the letters were just a polite way of arm twisting. “Hardly any education official comes and inspects our schools. But if we refuse admission to a candidate recommended by them,officials come to the school for inspection and threaten us of dire consequences… They also gather in large numbers outside the school and harass us and threaten us,” says Father George Athaide,secretary of Archdiocesan Board of Education that runs 150 convent schools in the city.

Sometimes the situation becomes so worse that police help is needed,says Father Baptist Pinto,the principal of St. Mary’s Boys’ School at Mazgaon. “Local politicians also drop in with their recommendations. Every school has a first-come,first-admission policy. Now,we also have to follow the Right to Education Act. On top of this,we receive threat calls if we do not act upon the recommendations,” he says and then goes on to add that the admission season has become a “nightmare” for them.

School management claim that the recommendation letters sent by politicians and ministers often mask the “authority” they try to assert often. During 2013 academic year,49 of the total 82 letters were sent by ministers. The remaining from local politicians,MLAs and MPs,bureaucrats and others. Of the 49 letters from the ministers’ offices,a majority (25) were from school education minister and minister of state for education’s office.

“For politicians,it is just for votebank. For others it’s gratification,may be in the form of money,” says Athaide.

Father Bosco D’Mello,the principal of Don Bosco School in Matunga,echoes Athaide. “We never deny admissions to needy people. However,by recommending people for admissions,the politicians are just eyeing the votebank,” he adds.

According to Pinto,80 per cent of letters received by his school seek admissions to kindergarten and nursery — the pre-primary sections that do not come under the purview of any department or agency of the state government. The RTI reply too revealed a similar trend. As many as 215 letters recommended admissions to nursery,junior KG and senior KG classes.

My Express

ECI Bihar Election Results 2025 LIVE: ‘No sorrow in defeat…ups and down inevitable’: RJD’s first reaction to poll rout

West Bengal voter list: Step-by-step guide to check your name in electoral roll of 2002 SIR

Bihar Election Commission of India Results 2025 LIVE: check results on results.eci.gov.in | Chapra, Raghopur, Karakat, Chanpatia, Ramgarh