JOIN USDPI nixes most requests for nod to start high schools
Several schools in the State that had applied for permission to run high schools have failed to make the cut, for the academic year 2015-16. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has denied permission to these schools on the grounds of inadequate infrastructure.
In fact, less than 70 schools have been granted permission out of the 234 that had applied. In Bengaluru, there were a high number of applications, but only a small percentage have been granted permission. In Bengaluru South, 12 schools out of 71 applications have been permitted and in Bengaluru North, eight out of 62 have been accorded permission. A detailed list of the schools is available on the DPI website.
The department had come up with revised guidelines for infrastructure at schools earlier this year. As per the new guidelines, among other infrastructure specifications, a private management wishing to start a school for classes one to eight in rural areas, town and city limits excluding BBMP limits needs to have at least one acre of land in its name or for at least 30 years of lease. The same rule applies if they want to start classes 9 and 10 on the same campus or start separately. In BBMP limits, for classes one to eight, managements must possess half acre of land for 30 years of lease. The same applies for classes 9 and 10 separately. In case the management wants to start a school with classes 1 and 10, it has to possess one acre of land.
Philomena Lobo, Director for Public Instruction, Secondary Education, said the permission was denied for some of the school managements as they failed to meet different aspects of the prescribed infrastructure. A large number of schools did not have the required land, she said.
Managements unhappy
The move has not gone down well with private managements which feel that schools that are denied permission are often those that function with minimalistic budget and cater to middle-class students.
Guidelines hailed
On the other hand, Niranjanaradhya V P, fellow, Centre for Child and the Law, NLSIU (National Law School of India University), felt that this was a good move by the government. Secondary education needs more infrastructure as it is a decisive stage. Navodaya schools require 10 to 15 acres of land. Even central schools and State government schools have big campuses. Since 65 per cent of education is in the private sector, the government has a valid reason to insist on this, he opined. “The schools will already be functioning with space crunch for primary classes. They will add two or three rooms to include high school on the premises,” Niranjanaradhya said.
Philomena Lobo, Director for Public Instruction, Secondary Education: Permission was denied for some of the school managements as they failed to meet different aspects of the prescribed infrastructure.