The issue of land is like a Damocles’ Sword hanging over hundreds of private schools in Tamil Nadu, which face the threat of closure solely due to their inability to meet the requirements in this regard, despite fulfilling all other Government norms. Section 18 (1) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act prohibited schools from functioning without recognition.
However, there has been no word from an expert committee constituted by the State Government to look into this contentious issue. Despite over one-and-a-half years having elapsed since it was formed, the committee is yet to make its report public.
The seven-member committee, headed by the Director of School Education, was constituted in March 5, 2013. It held consultations in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli and Madurai districts during May and June with schools’ associations, parents, students and other stakeholders.
Tamil Nadu Nursery, Primary, Matriculation and Higher Secondary Schools Welfare Association general secretary G. Krishnaraj says land prices have gone up exponentially in recent years across the State, especially in Coimbatore.
Prohibitive costs“The cost of one acre in some town panchayats here is almost Rs. 1 crore. How will schools located in these areas be able to purchase land to meet the requirements? The current norms will ensure only those commercially-oriented organisations to run schools in Tamil Nadu,” he says.
The present norms mandate that a school, located within the Corporation limits, must have 33 cents, 55 cents in a Municipality, an acre in a town panchayat and three acres in a village panchayat.
He advocates determining the land requirement based on the strength of each school rather than having uniform set of norms based on the location of school. As per the Government norms, each student must have 9.5 sq.ft.
Maya Devi Shankar, president of the All Private Schools Welfare Association, says that since many private schools are unable to meet all norms, they are getting their recognition renewed only for one or two years in place of the mandatory three years. They are being instructed to apply after meeting the land norms.
EducationThe education of thousands of students is at risk only because of the land issue. Under the present norm, a school must either function in own building or must have a lease period of 30 years. Both of these conditions are difficult to meet for many small and medium schools, she added.
Ms. Maya urged the State Government to come out with the committee’s recommendations well ahead of the next academic year keeping in mind the interests of the students, parents and school managements.
R. Lakshmanasamy, president of Pollachi Private Schools Welfare Association, said that a lot of ambiguities would be removed if the committee submitted its report. However, he expressed doubts if its recommendations would be applicable with retrospective effect.
There were allegations a few months ago that some individuals were exploiting the delay in the committee’s report.
A group of individuals conducted meetings in several districts including Salem and sought money from private schools to influence the report. Association office-bearers said that this group was exploiting the fears of many private schools,