Chandigarh: 41 UT schools may not get recognition

CHANDIGARH: If action is taken on the recent report of the UT education department on unrecognized schools, then 41 institutes may not get recognition out of 65 that have applied for it. After multiple rounds of inspections, district education officer has submitted the report.
As per officials, if the higher authorities decide on giving exemption to unrecognized institutes on two points — land allotment for school purpose and building certificate — then 24 schools might get recognition.These 24 schools fulfil other criteria, like school building, staff and salary, among others. If the exemption on these two points is ignored, then none of the 65 are eligible as they don’t have building certificate and the land allotment letter.
After becoming unrecognized, they will be named and shamed to create awareness among parents, the department has decided. This was also reported by TOI last week.
There are 120 unrecognized schools in the city (especially on the periphery), of which 55 never applied for recognition. Therefore, in total 96 unrecognized schools will face closure. These are mainly play and primary schools running in houses, while 24 schools shortlisted for consideration have a school building.
The report was submitted by district education officer Anujit Kaur to director, school education, Rubinderjit Singh Brar last week. Brar said, “I am yet to examine the report. We will submit it to senior officers this week.”
An official said, “The report has been submitted to higher authorities, and if they say then only 24 schools will be granted recognition. None of the 65 schools, which applied for recognition, have allotment letter that states that the land was granted to them for educational purpose or building certificate from the estate office that says they are going to build a school. Still, these 24 schools are better than others on various grounds and deserve recognition, but they lack on these two points. Now, whatever higher officers suggest will be done.”
There are around 20,000 students in 120 unrecognized schools in the city. Sources in the education department said, “In total, 120 unrecognized schools are under the scanner of the UT education department. But since 2015 when the issue was raised, only 65 applied for recognition. These schools have been inspected and re-inspected time and again over these years. This is the second time a detailed report has been submitted.”
Last year as well a report, including details of government schools where students from unrecognized schools could be admitted after their closure, was submitted. However, the process came to a halt for unknown reasons. It was after the TOI again highlighted the issue in April that the department swung into action. Teams of lecturers were formed and the schools were inspected.