New Delhi: The central government on Wednesday assured the Delhi government of help to protect the exclusivity of its 60 elite schools for meritorious students despite the implementation of a law on compulsory admission to all students, an official said.

The Delhi government said its Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas meant for meritorious students were facing threat of closure following the coming into force of the right to education act.

The act has a provision for compulsory admission of students in any school and this contradicts the process of admission into these schools.

The issue was raised at a meeting between Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. It was also attended by Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, an official said.

Sibal assured that his ministry will take an "urgent action", saying that comments of the law department and education panels will be taken to ensure protection to these schools.

There are about 60 Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas in Delhi, the admission for which is purely on the basis of merit. These were established to match prestigious private schools in the state. IANS