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Tamil Nadu: Over 2,800 private schools to get temporary recognition

The department of school education on Monday issued orders to give temporary recognition.

CHENNAI: Clearing the hurdles for over 2,800 private schools in getting recognition, the department of school education on Monday issued orders to give temporary recognition for the next academic year (2017-18). Around 2,800 private schools do not have recognition as they did not get the mandatory approval from DTCP (Directorate of Town and Country Planning) or LPA (Local Planning Authority) or CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority).

“Private schools are facing issues in getting the DTCP approvals. A committee set up by the department is studying the issue. Without recognition, they cannot run schools or admit students under RTE Act,” said T.Udhayachandran, secretary, department of school education. “The transport authorities also refused to give fitness certificates to vehicles belonging to unrecognised schools. Considering the welfare of students, we have given permission to extend the temporary approval to these schools,” he said.

As per the government order, the temporary approval will be given with a condition that the schools should obtain the DTCP or LPA or CMDA’s approval. Earlier, the schools got the temporary recognition extended until May 31, 2016. After that, applications to extend the recognition were kept pending as they did not have mandatory approvals from DTCP or LPA or CMDA.

Private schools have complained that though they applied for the regularisation for their buildings the Directorate of Town and Country Planning did not give approval as they did not have the manpower to regularise a large number of buildings. So, some schools have sought time till they get the approval for their buildings. Welcoming the government order, K.R. Nandakumar, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Nursery, Primary, Matriculation and Higher Secondary Schools Association said, “It will pave way for smooth conduct of RTE admissions and running the schools.”

Recognition for nearly three thousand schools was one among the main conditions laid down by the private schools to admit students under RTE Act this year. The online registration of applications for the seats under RTE act began on April 20. This year more than one lakh seats are available for RTE admissions. As per the RTE act, at least 25 percent of the seats at entry level classes (LKG and class 1) in private schools need to be reserved for children who are hailing from economically and socially disadvantaged sections.

Reshuffle in school education dept ahead of syllabus revamp:

Ahead of the preparations to revamp the syllabus, the government reshuffled six directors in the school education department on Monday. In view of preparing the students to face competitive exams, the government is planning to revise the state board syllabus for higher secondary classes from coming academic year. As per the government order, elementary education director R.Elangovan has been transferred and posted as director of school education.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training responsible for revising the syllabus has got a new head. RMSA director G.Arivoli has been transferred and posted as director, SCERT, in place of V.C. Rameswaramurugan transferred to non-formal and adult education. The present school education director S.Kannappan is transferred and posted as the state project director, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). He took over as the director of school education in December 2014 when there were allegations of corruption in teacher transfers.

During his tenure as the director of school education, the transfer counselling to the teachers was done in a transparent and fair manner. Tamil Nadu Text Book and Educational Services Corporation’s secretary S.Karmegam transferred and posted as the director of Elementary Education. The Non-Formal and Adult Education director M.Palanisamy transferred and posted as the secretary of Tamil Nadu Text Book and Educational Services Corporation. When enquired, officials from the department said it’s a routine affair.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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