For using the school premises for commercial purposes like selling books and uniforms, Ram Bhushan, district education officer-(elementary) cum-project director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), has issued notices to nine private schools in Ludhiana.
Schools that have received the notices last week are, Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Kitchlu Nagar, Saraswati Modern School, Civil Lines, GMT Public School, Jalandhar Bypass, International Public School, Chander Nagar, and
Guru Nanak International Public School, Model Town.
These schools have been directed to send their replies in three days and six out of these nine schools have sent their replies with documents.
Talking to HT, Bhushan said, "We have received complaints that these schools indulge in commercial activities like selling school uniforms and books on its premises. A parents association, Chander Nagar, recorded this activity in DVDs and has given us the proofs. Thus, we have issued notices to these schools and have asked them to answer why they did they use the school premises for commercial purposes. As soon as we get replies from the schools, we will submit a report to the deputy commissioner of Ludhiana to take action against these schools."
Anil Mathroo, district project coordinator, Right to Education Act, said, "Several parents' associations in Chander Nagar conducted a sting operation and have provided us with the proofs in the form of DVDs along with a written complaint regarding these schools. We have sent the DVDs to the schools asking them to reply why they indulged in such activities."
{{/usCountry}}Anil Mathroo, district project coordinator, Right to Education Act, said, "Several parents' associations in Chander Nagar conducted a sting operation and have provided us with the proofs in the form of DVDs along with a written complaint regarding these schools. We have sent the DVDs to the schools asking them to reply why they indulged in such activities."
{{/usCountry}}Principal of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Paramjit Kaur said, "We have received the notice from DEO office and a reply has been sent to them."
However, Mona Singh and Navita Puri, principals of Guru Nanak Public school, Sarabha Nagar, and Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, respectively, refused to comment.