EWS Students Struggle for Admission After CBSE Cancels School Affiliation
Many EWS (Economically Weaker Section) students and their families are facing distress after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) withdrew the affiliation of Daisy Dales Senior Secondary School in East of Kailash, Delhi. The decision, taken in November 2024, has left over 200 students without schools as the new academic session began.
Despite a Delhi High Court directive on March 12, 2025, asking CBSE to place these students in equivalent schools, several parents say their children are still out of school.
Parents Still Await Admission One Month Later
Sonu, a driver from Zamrudpur, has been visiting schools every day, filling admission forms for his son, who scored 93% in Class VIII. “My son has always been a top performer. Yet, we are unable to find a school for him,” he said.
His son, like many others, was enrolled under the EWS quota. The disaffiliation hit these students hardest as their financial constraints limit school options.
Varsha, another parent, has applied to four different schools. “Two of them charge high fees, but I had no choice. We’re still waiting for responses,” she said.
CBSE Disaffiliation Affected Over 200 Students
The CBSE order cited “non-compliance with bylaws” as the reason for withdrawing the school’s provisional affiliation. As a result, 96 students in Class IX and 109 students in Class XI were affected.
One of the students’ fathers filed a petition in the Delhi High Court with support from advocate Rushab Aggarwal. The court ordered the Regional Officer of CBSE Delhi (East) to relocate students to nearby schools of similar standard.
However, the new session began in April, and many families are still waiting.
Students’ Mental Health Affected
Savita, another parent from Zamrudpur, said her daughter, an EWS student now meant to enter Class IX, is struggling. “She’s been at that school since nursery. Now, some of her classmates have joined other schools, but she’s stuck at home. This is hurting her mentally,” Savita said.
Her husband, a block painter, earns very little. They cannot afford high private school fees.
Wasim, whose daughter had been at Daisy Dales since 2014, had no option but to enroll her in a fee-based school. “We had to pay ₹13,000. The term had already begun, so we couldn’t delay further,” he said.
Another parent, a cab driver earning ₹13,000 monthly, echoed the same concern. “I had to pay ₹8,000 in fees. My child didn’t get admission through the EWS quota this time.”
Legal Directive and CBSE Response
In court, advocate Aggarwal argued that the students’ rights were being violated by forcing them to find new schools. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma directed the CBSE to shift students to equivalent schools in nearby locations.
While CBSE officials declined to comment specifically on EWS quota students, they stated, “The school didn’t follow CBSE rules, which led to disaffiliation. We ensured students would be placed in schools of equivalent quality.”
Conclusion
A month after the High Court’s order, many EWS families remain uncertain about their children’s education. The situation raises serious questions about the protection of educational rights for underprivileged students when private schools lose affiliation. Clear, swift, and enforced action from authorities is essential to prevent long-term academic disruption for these children.
