Chennai, April 2 : The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has announced the schedule for admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act for the upcoming academic year, with the process set to begin on Thursday.

This early start marks a return to a more structured timeline, following delays experienced last year. As part of the initial phase, preparatory activities will commence on April 2.

On April 6, the department will share details with private schools regarding the number of seats to be reserved under the RTE quota.

These figures will be based on enrolment data available in the Education Management Information System (EMIS).

To ensure transparency, all eligible private schools have been instructed to display the number of seats available under the 25 per cent RTE quota on their premises starting April 7.

In addition, a consolidated list of available seats across schools will be published online on April 15, allowing parents to review options and make informed decisions.

The application window for admissions will open on April 20 and continue until May 18.

Parents must submit applications through the official online portal within this period. The entire admission process is scheduled to conclude by May 29.

Under the RTE Act, 25 per cent of seats in entry-level classes -- Lower Kindergarten (LKG) and Class I -- are reserved in unaided, non-minority private schools for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Each year, this provision benefits nearly 85,000 students, offering them access to quality education.

Eligibility criteria have been clearly defined. Priority will be given to children residing within a one-kilometre radius of the school.

For LKG admissions, children must be born between August 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022.

For Class I, the eligible birth date range is from August 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020.

In cases where the number of applications exceeds available seats, a lottery system will be conducted on May 22 to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.

Last year, RTE admissions were delayed until October due to funding issues under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.

With the process now back on track, officials expect smoother implementation and greater participation this year.

/IANS