State board schools cry foul over DPI notification

Bengaluru: A week after Department of Public Instruction (DPI) published the list of 1,266 private unaided schools in the city stating that these schools are operating without department recognistion and permission, a new controversy has been erupted.

Associated Managements of English Medium School in Karnataka (KAMS) has alleged that this whole exercise was aimed at exploiting the school managements by the officials.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Mr. D. Shashikumar, general secretary of the KAMS released documents showing that many schools which were recognised a decade ago are also listed as unauthorised in the new list.

He warned that if DPI does not withdraw the notices issued to the schools, they will consider of not admitting students under the Right to Education (RTE) free quota seats in the next academic year.

Mr. Shashikumar informed that while releasing the list DPI overlooked critical issues. Majority of the state schools in the city have been listed as unauthorised citing violation of the language policy.

But in reality, Supreme Court has already struck down the language policy. Adding to it many schools were shown that they are operating pre-primary schools illegally without considering the fact that these schools were permitted to start pre-primary schools in the year 2006 itself.

“Now, in the name of the notice, few officials of the department are demanding money in the name of regularisation. We will move the court seeking relief,” he said.

“Till last year, RTE students were admitted to these schools after verifying the documents. But within six months now DPI officials are saying that these schools have no valid permission. How it is possible?” he questioned.

No reimbursement: Mr. Shashikumar informed that even seven months after the start of the academic year 2014-15, DPI yet to reimburse the school fee of RTE quota students.

“Every year DPI officials assure that they will reimburse the fee money with in few weeks. But they never stick to their assurance. This is resulted in 20% to 30% loss to the schools," he said.

“We are demanding realistic fee from the DPI. But they are not ready to listen to us. We will take a final decision on RTE admission process for the academic year 2015-16 in next few days," he added.

But when contacted DPI officials, they refuted the allegations. A senior officer informed that for the first time, a list of unauthorised schools is prepared based on the available documents and school visit. "Schools are given enough time to submit documents and get clean chit,"  he said.