Lottery vs point system: Most principals back second option

Ameeta Mulla Wattal

Principal,Springdales School,Pusa Road

Lottery system: The lottery system is not educationally sound. It is based purely on luck. It goes against the very ethos of education. The schools have reiterated this to the CM and she has understood this point.

Point system: The point system is transparent and fair. It is not based on interviews. Parental qualifications and financial background are not taken into consideration. This is as close to non-screening as you can get.

Management quota: Perhaps this quota can be looked at as a support for the school’s services.

Abha Sehgal

Principal,Sanskriti School,Chanakyapuri

Lottery system: Every system has its pluses and minuses. If a child is studying in our school,the parents might want to admit his/her siblings here. The lottery system will create problems there.

Point system: The point system is fair. Some parents who do not fit into the point system might say it is unfair.

Management quota: It is not absolutely necessary. What matters is that the guidelines should be clear cut.

Usha Ram

Principal,Laxman Public School,Hauz Khas Lottery system: The lottery system is impractical. It brands a child “lucky” or “unlucky” from the very beginning. If a school gets 2,000 applications for 100-something seats,it cannot keep putting them in boxes and drawing lots.

Point system: In this system,the parameters (that can be allotted points) can be worked out by the institutes on the basis of their ethos and philosophy. For example,a school that is old might give more weightage to the alumni category,while others might give weightage to the sibling category.

Management quota: The quota should be retained. Schools would like to reserve a certain number of seats for their own people or people who matter to the school.

M I Hussain

Principal,DPS,Mathura Road

Lottery system: Earlier,there was a provision for a limited lottery system. Schools used that provision when there was a tie between a number of applicants. For example,if there were 20 applicants who got 69 points,and there were only 10 seats,we would go for a draw of lots. But Delhiites are used to the points system now and are unhappy about the lottery system.

Point system: The point system is not 100 per cent perfect. But since schools have been following this for the last three years,there is more acceptance. Some parents,however,do say that the practice of giving points to the children of the alumni is discriminatory.

ManagemeNt quota: “School managements feel they are losing control over the schools they established all of a sudden. The general public feels it is unfair that a certain number of seats goes to the management. The fact remains that there should be a provision where school managements have a say.

Suman Nath

Principal,Tagore International School,East of Kailash

Lottery system: While the lottery system is more convenient for the schools than the point system,parents will be at a loss. It is not transparent. Siblings and alumni cannot be taken care of in this system either.

Point system: Criteria like sibling,alumni and neighbourhood are at least taken care of.

Management quota: There are some people who are the school’s backbone,and we must give them a chance. The school must have that power in its hand. The quota must be retained.