Are children admitted in hostels operated by private schools in Krishna district in safe hands? The answer is ‘no’, as no school management has obtained any permission from either the Education, Municipal, or Fire departments.
Representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Private Schools’ Association, however, say there is no need to obtain permission from the government for operating hostels.
In all, 600 primary, upper primary, and 430 high schools are being operated by private managements in the district, and thousands of children are staying in the hostels attached to the institutions.
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Many schools are operating hostels in Gudivada, Vuyyuru, Mandavalli, Gosala, Vijayawada, and other places. Some institutions have set up hostels on the outskirts of towns, that too in buildings unfit for stay, without providing any security for the inmates.
Speaking to The Hindu , District Education Officer D. Devananda Reddy said that schools should set up hostels only after obtaining permission. They (managements) should obtain a No Objection Certificate from the Fire Department both for the schools and hostels, he added.
District Fire Officer V. Srinivas categorically stated that managements of private schools must obtain clearance from the Fire Department for operating hostel separately. “But, not a single school has applied for NOC,” he said.
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Lone exception
“An orphanage of Health and Education of All (HEAL) located at Narsingapalem village in Agiripalli mandal applied for provisional permission for construction of home-cum-hostel building for 1,000 students recently. After construction of the structure, we will visit and grant permission if the norms are followed,” Mr. Srinivas said.
AP Private Schools’ Association State general secretary V. Sundara Ram said there was no notification /information from the government to obtain permission from the DEO for operating hostels.
The managements, however, should obtain NOC from the Fire Department and the Civil Supplies. Food Inspectors can inspect the hostels any time to check the quality of food, he said.