Chennai: Over 700 private schools which do not have the minimum requisite land can now heave a sigh of relief as the government relaxed the rule saying that these schools can have students’ strength proportionate to the total area of the school.
As per the government order, these schools should have a minimum 10 sqft per student and 40 sqft per teacher. The schools which have more students should reduce their strength in a phased manner over four years, the order said. Further, these schools will not be allowed to start any additional classes.
As far as the playground and the height of the buildings in these schools are concerned, the government will take a decision based on the housing and urban development department’s subcommittee report, the order said.
However, the minimum land rule will apply for all the new schools, officials clarified.
The government has fixed minimum requisite land for private schools based on the former vice-chancellor S.V. Chittibabu committee’s report in 2004.
According to the order, the private schools in city corporations should have the minimum of 6 groun-ds, 8 grounds in district headquarters and 10 grounds in municipalities. In town panchayats and villages the minimum land is 1 acre and 3 acres.
The schools which did not have the minimum land were given 4 years.
Subsequently, it was extended until May 31, 2016. Totally 746 schools, mainly from Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thi-ruvallur districts could not get additional land. Meanwhile, the government formed an expert committee to find a solution. A case was filed in high court last year seeking the closure of these schools.
