The Hindu : Karnataka News : Steps taken to curb malpractices in schools

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Sunday, Apr 24, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Steps taken to curb malpractices in schools

Staff Correspondent

There are several complaints about some institutions collecting excessive fees, says Deputy Commissioner

‘Admissions should commence in April and
end in May'
‘Parents should not be asked to buy uniforms from a particular tailor'

GIVING INSTRUCTIONS:A.S. Nirvanappa, in-charge Deputy Commissioner, at the district-level Education Regulation Authority meeting in Chitradurga on Saturday.

Chitradurga: A.S. Nirvanappa, in-charge Deputy Commissioner, on Saturday directed officials of the Department of Public Instruction to investigate and submit a report on the allegations that some primary and high schools in the district were demanding excessive fee and closing the admission process before the due date.

Chairing a meeting of the district-level Education Regulation Authority here, Mr. Nirvanappa said that the Karnataka Education Act amended in 1995 stipulated that no private educational institution should collect fees in excess of what had been prescribed by the Government.

Although the Government had specified that the admission process in schools should begin in April and end in May, a few institutions had reportedly declared that admissions were closed in order to exploit those who were desperate to have their children admitted in time. “We have received several complaints from parents about these malpractices. Hence, officials should visit all schools in the district and submit a report within a week,” he said and added that another meeting of the authority would be held 10 days after receiving the report.

The authority had decided to serve notice on the National Academy School in Hiriyur for allegedly admitting students in violation of the norms, he said.

He directed all private institutions to compulsorily display information about the number of seats available, the admission process, the starting and closing dates for admission, and the fee structure.

Schools should not collect the term fee from students at the pre-primary and primary levels. However, they can collect the prescribed fees from students of higher primary and above.

“The schools should issue proper receipts for all the payments collected from students. They should not change school uniforms for five years. Whenever the change becomes due, parents should be informed about it a year in advance. School authorities cannot force parents to buy uniforms from a particular tailor,” he said.

Primary schools should admit a maximum of 50 students in each class or section. At higher secondary level, each class or section should have a minimum of 30 students and a maximum of 60, Mr. Nirvanappa said.

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