The Department of Public Instruction’s decision to not allow commercial or non-academic programmes in playgrounds attached to schools has come as a relief to most of the taluk and district-level officers.
This decision was taken recently and the department has issued an order to all its district-level officers in this regard.
Normally, the government school and college grounds in urban areas are being utilised for all purposes, except sports and physical education activities of the students of the respective institutions. As a result, both students and teachers raise objections many times to rent out playgrounds for private programmes and giving permission for such programmes has become a headache for officials as well.
The State has more than 73,000 schools including government schools, run by the local bodies, aided and unaided (primary, higher primary and high schools).
Among them, more than 50,000 are government primary and high schools. However, all schools do not have play grounds.
According to the department statistics, around 54.42 per cent government primary schools and 74.75 per cent government high schools have play grounds.
A district-level officer said, “Normally, we do not want to rent out the school grounds for private programmes. But yielding to the pressure of politicians, elected representatives and Swamijis, we need to give permissions. But now onwards, we do not have the right to give permission for such programmes. This is a good decision.”