Eleven city schools -- enlisted as members of `Prayas', an association working in the area of pre-primary education -- have decided to set common dates for issuing applications, conducting the required admission procedures and declaring the results. These include Ujwal Vidyalaya, Utkarsh Vidyalaya, Alembic Vidyalaya, Tejas Vidyalaya, Shaishav School, Baroda High School (BHS) (Bagikhana, ONGC and Alkapuri), Bright Day School, Mother's School and IPCL School.

Talking to Express Newsline on Thursday, Headmistress of the pre-primary section of BHS, Alkapuri, Promila Zalpuri said, ``Parents, who apply to more than two schools, are forced to pay the admission fees at one school to secure the seat, while waiting for others to announce their results. With this procedure, they will now be able to decide on that day of admission which school they wish to send their child''.

Preference is being given to children whose siblings are already enrolled in the school, those residing in close proximity to the school, and those born between September 1, 1995, and August 31, 1996 (with the exception of BHS which will also consider children aged two-and-a-half years). In compliance with the government's orders banning interviews of children seeking admissions to pre-primary schooling, the schools have also opted for random selection based on observation.

Jyoti Mankad, Supervisor of the pre-primary section at Tejas Vidyalaya, said, ``Between February 15 and March 15, we'll divide the applicants into groups of 10-12 children each, assigning two teachers to observe the groups. The child's behavioural traits, interaction between the parent and the child, physical fitness, and the like will be observed. The teachers will write their remarks on each child and accordingly admission will be given, provided they fulfil the other eligibility criteria''.

BHS, Alkapuri, however, will also conduct a draw to select its students. ``As we had about 1,300 applicants this year and only 150 seats, we decided to conduct a draw,'' explained Zalpuri, adding that the final results of the admissions would be displayed at the respective schools on April 3.

Meanwhile, the Rosary School, Fatehgunj, which starts pre-primary admissions from the junior KG level, will also give preference to Catholic children and wards of the school alumni, who are members of the Rosary Old Students' Association. Incidentally, the school has chosen to continue with the interview system of selection.

Explains Principal Fr Coutinho, ``When the government banned interviews two years ago, we asked for an alternative method to select students. We are still awaiting that alternative. So, when the available seats and application ratio is 1:6, how else can we decide on the students but through interviews''?