Private schools in Chandigarh are indulging in profiling of parents to shortlist students for admission into elementary classes, The Tribune has reported.

According to the report, questions pertaining to parents’ income, educational qualification, occupation and even the brand of cell phone being used by them are being asked by the city’s private schools in the application forms for prospective nursery students.

The schools’ admission form blatantly violates the norms despite the fact that many schools have adopted a draw of lots system in order to fill the nursery seats, says the report.

Schools indulging in profiling of parents and children is in violation of the Right to Education (RTE) act and orders of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Independent School Association president H S Mamik told the paper that he finds certain schools’ interests in parents’ income as “surprising” adding that inquiring about parents’ profession is “agreeable” but inquiry of income is not.

As per the report, it is mentioned in the admission form of a school that the questions form an “important part” of the admission process.

Nitin Goyal, president of Chandigarh Parents Association, criticising the education department for doing nothing, said, “Though it is not allowed under the RTE Act, many private schools undertake profiling of parents and ask about their qualification, designation, yearly income and some even seek to know the mobile handset they use to gauge their financial status.”