Govt plans to empower parents in school mgmt

The Delhi government is mulling a proposal to amend rules, empowering parents in the management of government schools. 

As per the rules, the principal is the chairperson of the school management <g data-gr-id="29">committee,</g> while the amendment seeks to elect a chairperson from among the parents to head the committee.

“The school management committee shall elect a  chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among the parents to manage its affairs. The school principal or the senior-most teachers, in his/ her absence, will be the convenor of the committee,” said Ashok Agarwal, a senior advocate, who is involved in the drafting of the rule. 

The rule, if passed, will give more powers to parent bodies. “Community intervention in school education is a known democratic principle for healthy and quality functioning of a school,” added Agarwal. The rule, which will be in accordance with the Central government’s guidelines under the Right To Education Act, was not implemented in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh.

“The amendment will be applicable in all schools of various government agencies in the city, besides private schools affiliated to them, except unaided private schools,” said Agarwal. 

“If implemented, the rule will bring in a revolution in the Delhi education system by empowering parents. It will be applicable to all schools run by the Delhi government, MCDs, NDMC and also those partially funded by these agencies,” he said. 

There are 1,011 schools run by the DoE. The MCDs run 1,793 primary schools, of which 44 are <g data-gr-id="28">aided</g>. The amendment is being mooted after CM Arvind Kejriwal’s direction.