<p> <br />Private unaided schools are allegedly under pressure to bribe the officials of the Department. This has added to their problems of drop in number of students and difficult task of convincing the parents to allow their wards to continue studying in these schools. <br /><br />Till mid-July 2009, the department was in the process of derecognising private unaided schools for violation of language policy, despite the High Court order leaving authority to choose medium of instruction to parents and students. Based on the State’s order, the Education Department derecognised many unaided private schools.<br /><br />The department bracketing them under ‘derecognised’ schools, had taken many unaided school managements by surprise. The private school managements resorted to various ways to ensure that the department officials who inspected the schools, six to seven times in an academic year, did not list them as derecognised. On several occasions, the department officials had allegedly demanded money to ignore the violation of medium of instruction policy, sources said on conditions of anonymity.<br /><br />On the decline in admissions, Rahnaz, Principal, Bharatiya Public School which was listed as derecognised by the Education Department, said, “The admissions had dropped by more than 50 per cent as compared to last year and now we have just about 125 students from class I to VII. Many parents demanded Transfer Certificates as they did not want their wards to be studying in derecognised schools.”<br /><br />Sabbanna, Headmaster, Modern Public School, said, “Parents, mainly from the lower economic groups request us to educate their wards in English. We are still conducting regular meetings updating parents on the language issue and the schools’ stand on it. <br /><br />Parents desire that their children be educated in English for better employment. We will closely follow the court proceedings. But at the same time, we have begun teaching in English.” <br /><br />When contacted, the Education Department officials, on condition of anonymity said that, at present there was no clause to initiate any action against the unaided schools due to the court directions. But the official confirmed, “Block education officer and education co-ordinator concerned inspect schools to ensure students’ strength in a classroom and attendance, several times throughout the academic year.”<br /><br />Reacting to the allegations, R G Nadadur, Principal Secretary, Primary and Secondary Education said that no formal complaints have been lodged by private schools about officials’ alleged misconduct. Nadadur said, “The department has a strong vigilant mechanism to probe into complaints on the conduct of officials. Schools should refrain from giving money and should duly inform the officials about instances where any BEO or co-ordinator demands money.” <br /></p>
<p> <br />Private unaided schools are allegedly under pressure to bribe the officials of the Department. This has added to their problems of drop in number of students and difficult task of convincing the parents to allow their wards to continue studying in these schools. <br /><br />Till mid-July 2009, the department was in the process of derecognising private unaided schools for violation of language policy, despite the High Court order leaving authority to choose medium of instruction to parents and students. Based on the State’s order, the Education Department derecognised many unaided private schools.<br /><br />The department bracketing them under ‘derecognised’ schools, had taken many unaided school managements by surprise. The private school managements resorted to various ways to ensure that the department officials who inspected the schools, six to seven times in an academic year, did not list them as derecognised. On several occasions, the department officials had allegedly demanded money to ignore the violation of medium of instruction policy, sources said on conditions of anonymity.<br /><br />On the decline in admissions, Rahnaz, Principal, Bharatiya Public School which was listed as derecognised by the Education Department, said, “The admissions had dropped by more than 50 per cent as compared to last year and now we have just about 125 students from class I to VII. Many parents demanded Transfer Certificates as they did not want their wards to be studying in derecognised schools.”<br /><br />Sabbanna, Headmaster, Modern Public School, said, “Parents, mainly from the lower economic groups request us to educate their wards in English. We are still conducting regular meetings updating parents on the language issue and the schools’ stand on it. <br /><br />Parents desire that their children be educated in English for better employment. We will closely follow the court proceedings. But at the same time, we have begun teaching in English.” <br /><br />When contacted, the Education Department officials, on condition of anonymity said that, at present there was no clause to initiate any action against the unaided schools due to the court directions. But the official confirmed, “Block education officer and education co-ordinator concerned inspect schools to ensure students’ strength in a classroom and attendance, several times throughout the academic year.”<br /><br />Reacting to the allegations, R G Nadadur, Principal Secretary, Primary and Secondary Education said that no formal complaints have been lodged by private schools about officials’ alleged misconduct. Nadadur said, “The department has a strong vigilant mechanism to probe into complaints on the conduct of officials. Schools should refrain from giving money and should duly inform the officials about instances where any BEO or co-ordinator demands money.” <br /></p>
