TN's Nod Made Must for All Board Schools

COIMBATORE: The State government has amended the Tamil Nadu Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011, making it mandatory for schools affiliated to other boards to get recognition certificate from the Director of School Education.

The amendment was made through a Government Order on September 19, issued by the School Education department principal secretary D Sabitha.

According to Rule 12 of the Tamil Nadu Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules of 2011, every school, other than those established, owned or controlled by the appropriate government or a local authority or belonging to specified category shall make a self-declaration to a competent authority regarding compliance with norms and standards.

The rule makes it mandatory for schools to fulfill conditions like being open to inspection by any officer authorised by the State government or the competent authority and furnish reports and information as may be required by the local authority from time to time. The competent authority will conduct inspection and grant certificate of recognition based on the report.

Earlier, the rule prescribed joint director of elementary education as the competent authority for schools having classes I to V or up to VIII for getting recognition certificates. Similarly, chief education officer (schools having classes from LKG to V and non-minority schools having classes I to X or VI to X), joint director (secondary education) of school education (minority schools having classes I to X or VI to X and Anglo-Indian Schools), joint director of matriculation schools (matriculation schools) as competent authorities for the respective schools.

Now, the government by the amendment has nominated director of school education as the competent authority to issue recognition certificates to schools affiliated to boards other than State Board (both secondary and higher secondary). This includes CBSE or ICSE board schools.