Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Panel hears views on school recognition procedures

— Photo: G. Moorthy

Eliciting VIEWS: M.P.Vijayakumar, high-level committee chairperson, speaking at a public hearing held in Madurai on Saturday.

MADURAI: The high-level committee, formed by the State government, to look into streamlining the recognition procedures for private schools, conducted its public hearing here on Saturday.

M.P.Vijayakumar, committee chairperson and former State Project Director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, along with other members, heard the suggestions and grievances of representatives from various self-financing and aided schools in southern districts.

“The State government is seriously concerned over the delays in obtaining recognition certificate for starting a school and also at the time of renewal. So, this committee was formed to look into the means for simplified and streamlined procedures,” Mr. Vijayakumar said in his opening remarks.

He said that the objective of forming the committee was to examine how to reduce the time taken by various departments for issuing the mandatory certificates to schools in both urban and rural areas.

The common suggestion that came from the school correspondents and principals was that the officials of School Education Department in all districts must have powers to deal with issuing of certificates if all parameters were satisfied as per the Government norms.

Town planning approval, Fire Department certificate, building stability certificate, local body approvals and license from the tahsildhar were among the topics discussed. Some participants suggested that the norm of obtaining renewal certificate by private schools once in three years can be revised to at least five years.

“Every time we go for renewal, documents and photographs of buildings have to be submitted. That practice may be done with to simplify the job for both the schools and department officials,” a school Principal said.

The committee, which had conducted similar public hearings at Chennai and Coimbatore, would submit its report to the State Government shortly.

T. Jaganathan, former Director of School Education, P. Mani, Director of Matriculation Schools, R. Pitchai, Joint Director of Matriculation Schools and R. Pandurangan, Chief Educational Officer (Madurai district), were among those present at the public hearing.

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