The School Education Department on Thursday closed down 14 private schools in the district owing to their failure to obtain recognition. The closure notices were issued after obtaining the consent of the District Collector Archana Patnaik.
Section 18 (1) of the rules framed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act stated that no school other than those owned or controlled by the State government or a local body could function without obtaining a certificate of recognition.
Chief Educational Officer A. Gnanagowri told reporters that most of these schools were functioning out of houses with the others lacking the adequate land or infrastructure.
Notices were issued to 309 schools over the recognition issue.
However, 277 of them were playschools, whose recognition issue was currently in the court. Three schools had closed in the last academic year, two of them voluntarily with the remaining one forcibly as it was functioning in a dilapidated building.
The schools that were closed down on Thursday are: Rigwana Nursery and Primary School, Angalkuruchi in Anaimalai, Hithyaa Nursery and Primary School, Anaimalai, Manchester International Nursery and Primary School, Ram Nagar, KCAC Anaimalai, Sowripalayam Road, First School Montessori Nursery and Primary School, Raja Street, Isaac Nursery and Primary School, Kavundampalayam, Indian Nursery and Primary School, Chinnathadagam, New Little Star Nursery and Primary School, Pannimadai Road, Parth International School, Thudiyalur, Victory Vidhyalaya Nursery and Primary School, S.N.Palayam, Hearty Kids Afford Nursery and Primary School, Kuniamuthur, Kids Nursery and Primary School, Neelikonampalayam, Nalavazhvu Nursery and Primary School, Pappampatti and Little Angel Nursery and Primary School, Chinniyampalayam.
