New Delhi, September 25: In an alarming figure, out of 5,600 private school seats for the differently-abled children, the education department has received only 44 applications. This means that not even one percent of the reserved seats are filled and the rest are lying vacant for children with special needs in schools across the city.

According to an Indian Express report, since last year, all private schools recognised by the education department are required to reserve three percent of all seats at entry-level classes for special needs children. However, since last year itself, the low number of application has been a huge problem.

Five months have already passed in the current academic year, and 5,647 of these reserved seats still lying vacant because of the lack of applications. Delhi government’s Directorate of Education, therefore, called for a fresh round of applications on September 9. In the hope of getting more applications, the date for applications has again been extended to October 3. Delhi Government School Admissions: HC Says Address Proof Not Necessary, Orders Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya to Grant Admission.

The primary reason behind the low numbers in applications is the lack of physical and teaching-learning infrastructure suitable for children with special needs in city schools.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2019 11:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).