Closure notices issued to 10 primary, nursery schools

69 more face threat for lack of requisite infrastructure

The Directorate of Elementary Education has issued closure notices to 10 primary and nursery schools that are functioning in the district without conforming to Government norms.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Wednesday that another 69 schools faced the threat of closure for lack of requisite infrastructure.

As per government norms, schools that are functioning without meeting the Government norms are issued an initial notice pointing out to their non-compliance of the stipulations.

If the school fails to rectify the violations pointed out in the initial notice, the institution is issued a second notice directing them to comply.

If the school still failed to rectify the violations, the Department of School Education would issue a third and final notice.

The 69 schools have been issued the second notice. These schools have either not obtained Government recognition or have not renewed it due to their non-compliance with the norms.

While most schools did not have the required extent of land on their premises, some were found using asbestos sheets as roofs over their school buildings.

In April this year, notices were served on 124 private primary and nursery schools in the district.

Thirty schools have already been closed down.

Section 18 (1) of the rules framed under the Right To 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 recognition. Private schools found violating this rule would be levied a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh on the first day of functioning without recognition and Rs. 10,000 for every day from thereon.

As per the existing guidelines, a school in the city limits must have 33 cents, municipal limits 55 cents, town panchayat one acre and village panchayat three acres of land.

Clarification sought

An official here said that a clarification had been sought from the Directorate of Elementary Education on land requirement as many schools that have been functioning for several years and were now facing the threat of closure.