CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Sunday instituted a single window system for issuing approval certificates to nursery and primary schools, which have complied with safety norms, and announced extension of the deadline for submitting applications seeking approval to run schools till September 30.

As some schools had not taken steps to obtain or renew approval in the beginning of the current academic year, the Government had given the managements three months, ending August 31, to comply with the regulations, she recalled in a statement.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said of the 3,206 approved schools in the State, only 306 were yet to apply with the necessary certificates. Of the estimated 3,629 unapproved schools, 2,168 had applied for approval and inspections were in progress. The Education department has speeded up giving approval by redefining the role of field officers.

Following pleas from some institutions seeking some more time to comply with the safety norms, the Government has decided to give them a last chance to apply with necessary certificates before September 30. If they fail, the students will be relocated to nearby approved schools.

"My Government will ensure that parents of these children who are shifted to nearby schools do not face any financial hardship in this regard by providing support for such relocation," she said.

On the single window system to expedite issuance of certificates such as fire safety clearance, Revenue Department licence, sanitary clearance from local bodies and Health Department and stability certificate from chartered engineers, she said a team of officials would carry out joint inspection.

The mandatory stability and safety requirements in schools, especially nursery and primary schools, are being accorded higher priority in the aftermath of the fire in an aided private school at Kumbakonam on July 16 last year, she said.

The Government launched a programme to ensure complete safety of all students from December last year and to make sure that the managements of all nursery and primary schools complied with the mandatory stability and safety requirements, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

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