Bangalore: Several derecognised schools in the city have re-opened and have admitted a new batch of students for the 2007-08 academic year.

This even before the Government is yet to decide on granting them recognition.

When this reporter visited a few derecognised schools in the city on Thursday, she found that most of them had already started classes. The schools re-opened two or three days ago.

Speaking to The Hindu from Goa, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj B. Horatti said that the schools had violated the law.

"The derecognised schools were asked to reapply for recognition by May 15, which many have not done."

He said that "severe and stringent action" would be taken against derecognised schools that had already begun to take classes for 2007-08. "The parents are to blame for re-admitting their children in these schools. They cannot feign ignorance at this stage as this issue has been in the limelight since August 2006."

BEOs warned

Mr. Horatti said that stringent action would be initiated against the respective Block Education Officers and the Deputy Directors of Public Instruction for letting the derecognised schools to begin functioning. "I will direct officials of Department of Primary and Secondary Education to check the schools and initiate action against those that have begun to function for the next academic year," he added.

Unrelenting

M.A. Anand, president, Karnataka State Private School Managements' Federation, conceded that most derecognised schools had indeed started functioning.

"The High Court today directed the schools to file an affidavit (stating that they would impart education to the students from the first to the fifth standard in the medium of instruction in which they were permitted to operate). None of the schools are prepared to give it. For us, admissions are more important," he said.

Srikanthappa, principal of Sri Rajarajeshwari Middle School and member of the federation, said he was not bothered about the language policy.

All I am bothered about is the future of our students. Parents want to send their children to English-medium schools.

"We are catering to that demand. We are not doing anything wrong," he said.

He said the Government was itself uncertain about the future of derecognised schools. "The Government should understand that we have started the school because there is a demand for education in English medium. Parents only want their children to have quality education at a reasonable fee. How can a middle class parent send his child to elite schools?," he asked.

Principal of Nandini Public School N.S. Gnana Murthy said that there had been no change after the Government derecognised his school. He said there was no drop in the number of admissions either.

"The only difference is that parents are a little apprehensive. However, I met a few parents and convinced them. I do not think we are doing anything wrong. We continue to give equal importance to Kannada and English," he said.

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