92 unregistered schools in Gurugram served notices

Gurugram: The department of education has once again adopted a strict stance against the unlicensed schools operating in the city and have served notices to 92 such schools operating in Gurugram urban area. The management of the schools has again been warned that if they do not register themselves they will lose the licence. Despite several warnings, most of the unlicenced school continue to operate in the city.

According to an official source, over 1500 students are studying in such schools. "Most of these schools take the route of the court to prevent us from taking action against them. This time however we have taken cognisance of the delay tactics adopted by such schools and will deal with them accordingly. We cannot allow such schools to play with the future of the children," said a senior official from the education department.

Over 177 unlicensed schools are functional in the district. As most of these private schools are not registered, they too get away in charging exorbitant sums from the parents. For long, it has been alleged by educations activists and aggrieved parents that the district administration has not penalised these unlicensed schools as some of it are operational since 2007.

Most of these schools have been given a leeway by the government to function as most of the quality private schools in the city are not able to accommodate the students. There have been various incidents in the past where schools consisting of 300 to 500 students were closed down abruptly.

Various schools on the pretext of enhancement of facilities and implementation of seventh pay commission had increased their school fees. This has led to thousands of parents protesting against such schools not only in Gurugram but also in Delhi.

"We really hope that the public agencies really rein in these schools because the lack of action by the authorities has resulted in these schools now running an education mafia where the middle-class parents are financially exploited as they do not have an option. ," says Mahima Yadav, one of the aggrieved parents.