JOIN USTo stop mushrooming of low quality schools without proper infrastructure, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on Wednesday substantially hiked registration fees for starting new schools and sections in the existing schools.
Besides, managements wanting to start new school in Bangalore and other city corporation areas should own a minimum of one acre. They should have at least 1.5 acres and two acres in case of other towns and rural areas respectively. Managements who do not own land should get it on lease for a minimum of 30 years.
Mohammed Mohsin, Commissioner, DPI, told Deccan Herald: “All kinds of schools have mushroomed in the State without any assurances on quality or standards. The logic behind the hike in the registrations fees is to discourage such schools and only allow those who can provide quality education with proper facilities. We do not want children to study in schools that function from just two rooms. RTE guidelines demand that such strict parameters be followed.” The deadline for submitting applications for registrations has been extended from October 31 to November 30.
According to a circular issued by the DPI, the revised registration fees for starting pre-primary (LKG, UKG) section has been increased to Rs 25,000 from Rs 2,000; for classes I to V (primary), to Rs 25,000 from Rs 5,000.
For classes VI to VIII (higher primary) to Rs 50,000 from Rs 5,000. For starting English medium classes from classes VI to VIII the present registration fee of Rs 10,000 has been hiked to Rs 1 lakh. For classes IX and X (high school), both in the English and Kannada medium the present fee is Rs 10,000. The revised fee is Rs 50,000 for Kannada medium and Rs 1 lakh for English medium.
The pre-primary section should have two classrooms. The primary section should have five classrooms with a dimensions of 18x20 sqft each and four toilets each for boys and girls. The higher primary section should have eight classrooms with the same dimensions as mentioned and four toilets each for boys and girls. The high school section should have nine such classrooms with a dimension of 18x20 sqft each. Schools should provide safe drinking water, a proper compound wall, a playground and they will also have to follow safety guidelines prescribed by the home department.
Schools will also have to pay a safety deposit of Rs 1 lakh for lower primary, Rs 2 lakh for Kannada medium higher primary, Rs 5 lakh for higher primary English medium schools and Rs 3 lakh for Kannada medium high schools and Rs 10 lakh for English medium high schools. This amount will have to be in a joint account of the government and management. In case registration does not take place, the amount will be returned but the processing fee will not be refunded.