JOIN USA three member committee has been set up by the AAP government to review the existing policy on aided schools in Delhi.
The government provides grants-in-aid to 211 aided schools which receive a maintenance grant of 95 per cent of recurring expenses. There is also a provision for non-recurring grants for contingency, rent, equipment, library, etc, according to a statement by the government.
“In 2015-16, the government spent more than Rs 390 crore on such aided schools. However, even after spending such large sums of money in supporting aided schools, most stakeholders are dissatisfied with the outcomes,” it said.
“Managements of these schools complain of a lack of autonomy, while the government feels it has no say in their management. Teachers complain of arbitrary and ad-hoc decisions made by managements and the absence of any grievance redressal mechanisms,” the statement added.
The decision was taken on the directions of Education Minister Manish Sisodia. “The committee will examine the relevant provisions of Delhi School Education Act and Rules, and conduct an in-depth analysis of the issues involved, in order to recommend long term solutions in the best interest of students who are the prime stakeholders of any academic institution,” the government said.
The committee will be chaired by Amit Kaushik, former director of Ministry of Human Resources Development and will have Shashi Kaushal, Special Director in Directorate of Education and Hemanth Pothula of Delhi Dialogue Commission as its members.