61 schools get notice for poor student strength

Enrol more or shut down, says DDPI

The decision to issue notice was taken by the DDPI office to ensure that schools in Vijayapura district increase student strength.

Taking a tough stand on schools in Vijayapura district that have student strength lower than the one prescribed by the government, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction has issued notice to such schools asking them either to improve enrolment or shut down.

The Deputy Director has issued notice to 61 schools of the district that have below average strength.

The notices have been issued to primary schools where student strength is less than 15 in each class and high schools where student enrolment is less than 50.

The decision to issue notice was taken to ensure that schools increase student strength.

These schools have been given time till June-end to improve enrolment for different classes.

Govt. benefits

According to officials, private schools must improve student strength to avail themselves of government benefits. The schools should have facilities such as playgrounds and toilets.

“We have asked these private unaided schools to improve student strength within the stipulated time. If they failed to do it, then we will have no choice but to cancel their permission to run the schools. We don’t want to see any school being shut down; at the same time, we can’t allow schools to run with below average student strength,” the officials said.

Of the total number of schools issued notice, 18 are in Vijayapura taluk, 15 in Sindgi taluk and 11 in Muddebihal taluk.

Interestingly, many schools that have received notice are either run by politicians or influential persons in the district.