The government will carry out a detailed assessment of unrecognised schools that have been served notice under the Right to Education Act, Education Minister C. Ravindranath informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to the notice for an adjournment motion moved by K.N.A. Khader and others, he said 1,585 unrecognised schools in the unaided sector had been served notice by the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to close down.
“While some of the schools have given an explanation, some others have submitted complaints and a few have moved court for a stay. Out of the 1,194 schools that had applied for recognition, 395 were approved,” the Minister said.
He said the government was open to discussions on unrecognised schools. “We have an open mind on the issue and an appropriate decision will be taken soon after a detailed assessment of the situation and taking the High Court rulings into consideration,” he told the House.
Unerpaid teachers
The Minister said several schools were accused of underpaying teachers and extracting high fees from students.
Moving the notice, Mr. Khader said the move to close down unrecognised schools had sparked concern among students, parents, and teachers. Many of these institutions were equipped with laboratories, libraries, playgrounds, and hostels.
He said the government would have to appoint 25,000 teachers in government and aided schools if the unrecognised institutions were closed down.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala urged the government to announce a two-year amnesty for unrecognised schools to upgrade facilities and meet requirements mandated by the Right to Education Act.
Satisfied with the Minister’s assurance of an open discussion, the Opposition refrained from staging a walkout.
