It's been over two weeks that the centre implemented the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009. But there is little clarity on the reservation of 25 per cent of seats for economically weaker sections in all state-funded, private aided and unaided, and special schools in the country.

The model rules were formed by the centre government but most states are yet to form their own rules. The government is still unclear on identification and selection process for this.

The Centre for Civil Society (CCS), an NGO working on education sector, has formed a working model for implementing this reservation. The CCS says that the private schools in Delhi are confused and schools outside the state are clueless about this provision.

Parth J. Shah, president of CCS says, "the purpose behind the clause is the inclusive education and the challange is how to implement it in a fair and transparent manner." Shah adds that it is one of the many possible models that can be used.

The model ssuggests that there should be single application for all school, i.e. only one form will be filled by the families of children from EWS, in which they can give top three or five preferences. Shah adds, "For EWS we do not think that the concept of neighbourhood schools can work as many of these children will come from slums and there are no good schools nearby."

After the application process ends, the model says that the schools should select the child through a lottery system, which is fair and tranparent, either by the state government or by the school itself.

The state governments have to form their own rules in next three months, which experts feel is not possible. The CCS plans to take the model to state governments, the Departments of Education, standing committees, and other stakeholders.