HYDERABAD: No new applications for starting private schools will be entertained from Friday onwards and only those schools which have applied before October 2014 will be considered for giving permission to start functioning from this academic year.
The decision was taken by Hyderabad district education department to avoid last minute rush resulting in more private schools sans proper facilities and staff.
Normally for setting up a new private school for the next academic year, managements have to apply before October. But in most cases applications are entertained even after October till the end of April on payment of fine. As a result, most of the applications are filed at the last minute in summer months, said L Rambabu assistant director, Hyderabad education department.
As most of the private schools apply in the last minute, officials try to complete the process of checking all the facilities, going through the financial and other mandatory requirements and accord permission for setting up new schools in a hurry.
There are various conditions to be fulfilled by the private schools while they apply for new school or for upgrading the existing schools, like deposit of money in endowments fund, availability of sufficient space of six to eight square feet of space for each pupil, fire certificate, playground, library, lab and separate sanitary facilities for girls and boys, among others. “To check whether these conditions are fulfilled, we need manpower and time,’’ explained Rambabu. As the new academic year will start in June there is no time to complete all the procedures without comprising on standards.
Though a long list of conditions are prescribed, in reality most of the schools lack those parameters. In spite of not having proper facilties, they are accorded permission due to various reasons. There are more than 4,000 private schools in the city in all categories like primary, upper primary and secondary level.
Rules for Schools
Availability of 6 to 8 sq feet of space for each pupil, fire certificate, playground, library, lab and separate sanitary facilities for girls and boys are some of the rules each new school has to follow