Unrecognised schools told to stop edu activities

NEW DELHI: In an effort to protect children and their families from having to study in unrecognised private schools, the Delhi government has ordered private schools in Delhi functioning without its recognition to discontinue all educational activities from the next academic session.

"It has come to our notice that several unrecognised private schools are functioning without obtaining the mandatory certificate of recognition from appropriate authority which is in violation of the Right to Education Act," an official order by the Directorate of Education (DoE) said.

"All societies/trusts/agencies/organisations or individuals running unrecognised schools are directed to discontinue the educational activities from the academic session 2018-19, failing which action will be initiated against them," it stated.

The government also advised Delhi residents to get their wards admitted only to those schools which are recognised by either DoE or any other local authorities, such as municipal councils, as it may jeopardise the academic future of the children.

"Parents and guardians of students admitted to unrecognised schools are also informed to plan the admission of their wards in recognised schools for the 2018-19 academic session," it said. Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had warned Delhi's private schools of "strongest action" for allegedly harassing parents by arbitrarily increasing fees to comply with the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC).

The warning came after reports suggested that private schools substantially increased their fees to comply with the 7th CPC recommendations.

Aiming to put a curb on "unnecessary" fee hikes by schools, the Delhi government also plans to engage 40 charted accountants to audit financial statements of about 1,700 private schools of last three years.

The names of auditors will be finalised by February end.