Chandigarh, Sept. 10 -- Five months after the Punjab government launched an online portal and invited applications from children belonging to economically weaker sections for admission to private unaided schools, questions are being raised over the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, in the 2026-2027 academic session.

Social activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have flagged shortcomings in the school education department's admission process under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act. Their concerns include a narrow application window, the low number of admissions, lack of adequate publicity about the admission exercise, cumbersome procedures, and difficulties being faced by ...