Mandatory registration for standalone preschools

 The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on Monday evening withdrew a circular issued in 2006 which made it optional for standalone preschools to register under the Karnataka Education Act (KEA).

In effect, preschools which are not attached to educational institutions with Class 1 and above will now compulsorily have to register under the Act.

“The circular issued in 2006 had said that registration was required only when existing primary schools were opening pre-primary classes. However, the guidelines issued by DPI in 2015 had said that all preschools need to register with the department. With the withdrawal of the circular, this ambiguity has been removed,” said Ajay Seth, principal secretary for primary and secondary education.

An online portal will be opened soon to allow unregistered institutions to now do so. Those schools which have already registered need not register again. Following allegations of molestation against a pre-school supervisor in the city, there had been confusion over whether the DPI or the Department of Women and Child Development was responsible for the management of preschools.

“Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) does not have an Act under which schools can register. The KEA provides for an administrative registration for any institution which imparts education,” Seth said. He said he would coordinate with the Department of Women and Child Development to ensure that there is no overlap.