Patna: Bihar education department on Friday extended the enrolment deadline for students selected under the Right to Education (RTE) Act till April 10 and directed district officials to initiate action against private schools failing to comply with the mandatory 25% reservation for children from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections.Primary education director Vikram Virkar issued the directive to all district education officers and district programme officers for elementary education and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. The move follows reports that out of 70,155 students selected through the online randomisation process held on Feb 23, only 53,479 have been admitted so far. The earlier deadline for enrolment was March 20.Under the RTE Act, all recognised private schools are required to reserve 25% seats for eligible students. The department has instructed officials to ensure admission of the remaining 16,676 students by the revised deadline and to forward proposals for penalties against schools showing laxity or indifference in implementing the provision.The extension, officials said, will be treated as the final opportunity to complete the admission process for the selected candidates.
