Patna, Jan. 17: A number of Christian minority schools today announced the admission schedule for the next academic session, much to the relief of hundreds of parents.

The schools kept 25 per cent seats reserved for the underprivileged children in accordance with the Right to Education Act.

To start with, the schools announced details such as dates to collect forms and submit them. All of them, however, did not announce the admission dates.

St Xavier’s School principal George Nedumattam said: “We will announce the admission date and the seat availability after January 20.”

The principals of some of the schools, however, told The Telegraph that they were awaiting the Supreme Court’s verdict on reservation of students belonging to the underprivileged category before taking a final decision on admitting students.

“We have kept 25 per cent seats reserved for the underprivileged category. We are waiting for the verdict of the apex court, after which we would facilitate the admission for these seats,” the principal of a school said.

“Some of the schools have not reserved 25 per cent for the underprivileged category. If the Supreme Court’s decision does not come in our favour, we will add a new section in our school,” the principal of another school said.

Loyola will take students only in Montessori 1 of Loyola Montfort Montessori. Principal Brother Felix said: “Admissions will be held only in Montessori 1 as there is no vacancy in other classes. We have 180 seats in Montessori 1. Forms will be issued on January 20 and January 21. The last date to submit the forms will be announced at the time of issuing the forms.”

Don Bosco Academy has vacancies only in Lower KG (LKG). Principal Mary Alphonsa said: “We do not have seats available in other classes. So, we have decided to admit students to LKG only.”

Carmel High School has announced admission for KG 1 only and will distribute forms will on January 23. Sources said the date of submission of forms is January 27.

Mary Ward Kindergarten would issue forms on January 25. The forms would have to be submitted the same day.

St Michael’s High School will come out with admission information in the last week of January.

Some schools, however, have vacancies in the higher classes as well. St Dominic Savio’s High School, has invited admissions to Nursery, Upper KG (UKG) and Class I. The director of the school, G.J. Galstaun, said: “The forms will be issued from January 23 to January 31. The forms will have to be submitted by February 11.”

The wait for the parents eager to admit their wards to the Christian minority schools was getting longer with institutions not announcing the admission dates.

The schools were waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision on the Right to Education Act as 49 cases have been filed, challenging the proposed 25 per cent reservation for the underprivileged children in entry classes.

Today’s development came as a relief for several parents. Rahul Singh, who wants to send his daughter to Mary Ward Kindergarten, said: “There was no concrete news about the admission dates. Today I am relieved.”

On the other hand, there is some good news for those seeking admission to Class VI. St Joseph’s Convent High School announced availability of 50 seats in Class VI, forms for which would be issued on February 15. The forms have to be submitted the same day.