Tougher rules to open schools in state

The state has laid down stringent procedures for new English-medium schools, especially those seeking affiliation to national boards like CBSE and ICSE and international boards like IB and IGCSE, Sayli Udas Mankikar reports.

The state has laid down stringent procedures for new English-medium schools, especially those seeking affiliation to national boards like CBSE and ICSE and international boards like IB and IGCSE.

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Earlier, school managements just needed a no objection certificate (NOC) from the government, which they got after submitting a proposal.

But now, a team of experts will inspect the school facilities before approving it and managements will need to show board affiliation as well.

“The procedure will ensure double checks. One from the state department and another from the board the school wants to be affiliated with. This procedure will include proving that the school management has the land and facilitates needed,” said school education minister Rajendra Darda on Friday.

According to the new rules, school managements will be issued a Letter of Intent. Within 18 months of it, they will need to prove land ownership and have basic infrastructure ready.

After that, an inspection team comprising regional education officials, college and school principals and faculty and education experts will visit the school. They will check on faculties such as classrooms, playgrounds and toilets and submit a report to the government for an NOC.

SSC schools will be able to start immediately, but schools affiliated to other boards need to prove their affiliations. “We have seen several cases in which we have given NOCs, but the school’s affiliations did not come through and students were stranded in Class 10. Now, if the schools do not get affiliations we will withdraw their NOC,” added Darda.

The education department is also expected to restrict schools functioning without any board affiliations in the next fortnight.