Several of the 1,266 schools in the city that were blacklisted by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for operating without permission are likely to get legal sanction before the commencement of the 2015-2016 academic year.
The department in December 2014 had formed three-member committees to identify illegal schools. When the list was posted on its website, it had led to panic among several parents. Criminal cases were filed against some schools for cheating. However, the schools have submitted fresh proposals before the department could take a decision on legalising them.
“We have been flooded with proposals submitted by illegal schools, many of which fulfil necessary infrastructure norms and some even conform to the necessary land requirement to run the school,” said a BEO. Department sources indicated that around 40 per cent of the schools that are currently termed illegal could be legalised.
However, both parents and school managements say that the exercise is a “farce”, as the department has not yet initiated any action against the schools.
A representative of a school, which was declared illegal, said: “Many parents are anxious and have been asking us if we would get recognition. But ours is a big school and we are certain to get permission for the next academic year.”
Acknowledging that there has been a delay in taking action against the school managements, an Education Department official said: “When we issued a notice to a school in Jalahalli and asked the management to shift children to other neighbouring schools, parents approached the court and got a stay order. So we need to explore what action can be initiated without affecting the interests of students.”
Commissioner for Public Instruction Mohammad Mohsin said that not all illegal schools would get permission. “Even if schools get legal sanction for the next academic year, we will penalise them as they have violated department rules in the past,” he said. Meanwhile, Mullahalli Suri, President of the Parents Association, said, “The department did a commendable job by identifying the schools. But officers are using this exercise to their advantage, resulting in corruption.”
