Bhubaneswar, April 29, 2025 (OT Webdesk) : An alarming number of economically weaker section (EWS) students in Odisha have been denied their rightful admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) quota. Despite submitting valid documents, thousands of applications were rejected on the transparent portal, raising allegations of systemic irregularities and corruption.
Parents, distressed by the denial, have surrounded the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) office in protest. The Odisha Parents’ Association has also joined forces, demanding accountability and action. Concerns over favoritism and exploitation by private schools have further fueled the outrage.
The state’s education minister has assured an investigation into these allegations. Reports indicate that more than 8,000 applications were rejected, leaving over 5,000 students without seat allotments, despite sufficient reserved seats under the RTE quota.
The timeline of the application process also faced criticism due to abrupt changes, causing confusion among applicants. The controversy underscores the need for transparent processes to ensure education rights for all
