‘Obtain recognition for playschools, kindergartens or face action’

49 primary and nursery schools closed down in city last week

The Department of School Education has directed nurseries, playschools and kindergartens to obtain its recognition to ensure safety of the children in addition to cracking down on institutions that operate without any basic infrastructure.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Thursday that the Department was keen to ensure all institutions which took classes for children from L.K.G. to class XII obtained recognition.

RTE Act

The Directorate of Elementary Education had issued instructions to compile a list of such institutions operating in all districts.

The playschools would be directed to upgrade to primary and nursery level and apply for recognition under the Right To Education (RTE) Act.

The School Education Department officials here have started to identify such playschools and kindergartens in the district.

The focus would be on making sure that institutions met the minimum safety standards and had teachers who have undergone proper training.

Violation

A senior official in the Directorate of Elementary Education said that some playschools were functioning from houses, which was a serious violation of the minimum space requirement.

These institutions were also being run by unskilled staff.

While usually, schools would be served three notices before being closed down, these playschools will be closed immediately if they were deemed to pose a risk to children.

The Directorate of Elementary Education had closed down 49 primary and nursery schools in Coimbatore last week as they lacked recognition.

The RTE Act prohibited private schools from functioning without recognition. Further, sources said that the officials were also trying to identify those schools which were closed last year but had commenced admissions this year without obtaining recognition.