The State Edu Dept has asked nearly 1,800 schools to close down for want of CBSE or Department recognition. Some of the already affiliated schools have also been asked to close down. The row could potentially affect 15 lakh students and 1.5 lakh staff in these schools
Kochi: The fate of nearly 1,800 schools in the state is hanging in the balance with the State Education Department sending letters to them to close down for want of CBSE or state education department recognition.
At the receiving end mostly are the schools that are running classes up to VI and VIII and are awaiting CBSE affiliation. Those who have affiliation complain that there is a 'witch-hunt' against CBSE schools by targeting them.
The state of affairs has prompted the Kerala CBSE School Managements Association to shoot off a letter to the Chief Minister requesting him to keep in abeyance all such proceedings and redress the grievances of the fledgling schools that are contributing to the education sector of the state, which is rated high outside.
The letter sent by T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan, president of the association, and C.A. Abraham Thomas, treasurer, says that all the 1,400 CBSE-affiliated schools are being run either by registered societies or trusts without any profit motive. "On the basis of the fulfilment of all the conditions stipulated by the government regarding the number of students, landed properties, area of building and other infrastructural facilities, all these schools had obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the state government. One of the pre-conditions for filing the application for NOC and the affiliation from the CBSE is that there must be classes up to Standard VI. On the basis of the order of the Supreme Court, the classes can be run up to Standard VIII by the schools which are either seeking NOC or affiliation from the CBSE. In other words, it is a pre-condition that there must be classes up to Standard VI/VIII for seeking affiliation from CBSE or NOC," the letter pointed out.
Mr Ibrahim Khan told DC that schools that have CBSE affiliation too have received letter from the state education department. "CBSE affiliation is granted from Class IX onwards and the affiliation by-laws of the CBSE have made it clear that there must be classes from Standard I to VI/VIII before filing application for affiliation. The state education department circular to the schools says that those who don't have affiliation till Class VIII also should shut down. This is a clear case of wrongly approaching the issue without knowing the basics. The government has a duty to set things right."
Association general secretary Ms Indira Rajan told DC that unaided schools in both state and CBSE streams are at the receiving end and they will have to now secure special recognition from the state government under the rules framed by the state government under the Right To Education (RTE) Act in the year 2011. "We will seek an appointment with the government to appraise it of the real issues," she said.
Assistant Director of Public Instruction (ADPI) Jessy Joseph told DC on Wednesday that for running classes above LKG and UKG, the NOC of the state government and recognition of the affiliating body are needed and the education department was only enforcing it as per the Right to Education Act rules framed by the state in 2011. "The rules say that if such schools without recognition are allowed to function, then the responsibility lies with the DPI. Fine can be levied on such schools too," she said and added that she was not sure whether letters have been sent to schools that already have secured affiliation from CBSE from classes above IX. "The letters are issued by AEOs and DEOs and I understand that 1,800 schools have been given notice," she said.
However, Mr Ibrahim Khan in his letter said "The RTE Act and the Rules made thereunder never empower the State Government to close down the classes up to Standard VIII in the CBSE-affiliated schools under the guise of not obtaining the recognition."
He said that there are about 15 lakh students studying in the various affiliated 1,400 CBSE schools and more than 1.5 lakh staff are working in these schools. "There are a substantial amount of students studying and good number of teachers working in the schools which have classes up to VIII and are seeking CBSE affiliation. All are providing good education without any financial commitment to the government," Mr Ibrahim Khan said.
