Central govt rejects revival of MPs’ quota in central school admissions

New Delhi: In a significant move, the central government has declined to reinstate the reserved quota for Members of Parliament (MPs) in admissions to central schools across the country. Education Minister Annapurna Devi informed the Lok Sabha on Monday that special provisions, including the MPs’ quota, have led to admitting more than 40 students per section in central schools.

This, in turn, affected the student-teacher ratio and had an impact on education quality. In light of this, the government has decided against reconsidering the restoration of MPs’ quota. The New Education Policy 2020 also emphasises the need to maintain a healthy student-teacher ratio at the foundational level for achieving desired outcomes.

The issue surfaced during a question-and-answer session in the Lok Sabha when Devi shared details about the excess admissions under the special provisions in central schools, resulting in imbalanced classroom conditions. She highlighted the importance of adhering to a suitable student-teacher ratio, crucial for facilitating effective learning experiences.

The existing MPs’ quota allowed the admission of more than 40 students per section in central schools, leading to a concerning teacher-student ratio. The recent decision by the central government to maintain the status quo has been grounded in the pursuit of quality education and educational reforms, as outlined in the New Education Policy.