746 Schools Face Closure for Not Adhering to Infra Norms

CHENNAI: If the 746 unrecognised matriculation schools in the State do not fulfil the norms prescribed on infrastructural and other facilities including land availability, they will face the danger of closure by the end of this academic year (2015-16).

A submission was made in the counter-affidavit filed by the government in response to a PIL from A Narayanan, Director of CHANGEIndia of Virugambakkam. The PIL sought to quash a GO dated August 18, 2015, issued by the School Education Secretary and consequently to forbear the Chief Secretary and the Directors of Matriculation Schools, School Education and Elementary Education from granting recognition to the 746 unrecognised schools not fulfilling the norms specified in GOs dated July 21, 2004, Sept. 14, 2004, Sept. 14, 2005 and August 10, 2006 and the judgment of the Supreme Court.

The petition wanted to ensure that all unrecognised schools were closed by the end of the academic year 2015-16 and the students transferred to government or government-aided or unaided schools to help them continue their education.

The counter stated that the 746 schools were to face the threat of closure, as the extension of temporary conditional recognizance granted to them as one-time mesure would expire on May 31 this year and if they do not fulfill the norms prescribed by the expert committee constituted by the government in 2013. There is no chance of any further extension as it is only a one-time measure. When the Bench raised a querry, this position was once again affirmed by the counsel for the authorities, on the instructions from K Venkatesan, Superintendent of the Office of the Matriculation Schools, who was present in the court. And recording the submission, the Bench closed the PIL.

The grievance of the petitioner was that the unrecognised schools were continuing by ad-hoc extensions and the last such being granted under the GOs in question upto the end of academic year 2015-16.

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