New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) The eagerly awaited nursery admissions have commenced in Delhi, attracting significant interest from parents keen on securing places for their children in esteemed private institutions.

This process, recognized for its competitive nature, requires parents to maneuver through a complex array of criteria and fill out numerous application forms.

Many private schools have made their admission forms available online; however, parents were spotted visiting school grounds on Thursday to gather further information.

For parents like Anna Bakshi from South Delhi, this is the beginning of a challenging journey. Anna aims to enroll her daughter in a prestigious private school located on Lodhi Road but has wisely applied to several other schools to boost her chances.

Deepti Sharma, another parent, recounted her experience of missing out last year despite applying to four schools. This year, she has decided to register with 11 schools, recognizing the intense competition where applications often exceed available seats.

The Directorate of Education, Delhi Government, initiated the registration process for private, unaided, and recognized schools on Thursday, November 28, for nursery, kindergarten, and first-grade admissions.

Parents have until December 20 to submit online applications, after which schools will publish the first list of selected students on January 17, 2025. Additional lists may follow based on seat availability.

To qualify for nursery admissions, children must be at least three years old, while the age requirement increases to four for kindergarten. This year, 1,741 private schools are participating in the admissions process.

Schools located on government-leased land are required to reserve 25 percent of their seats for students from economically weaker sections, although this particular process has not yet commenced.

Most schools prioritize proximity to the institution and may also give preference to girls, siblings of current students, or children of single parents. Although admission criteria have been established and shared online, parents remain apprehensive.

Despite government regulations limiting the registration fee to Rs 25 and making the purchase of prospectuses optional, the process continues to be time-consuming. Many parents spent the entire day on Thursday filling out application forms.

The nursery admission process highlights the high demand for quality education in Delhi and demonstrates the lengths parents will go to secure their children's futures. For many, the upcoming weeks will be filled with anticipation as they await the results of their applications.