Cracking the whip on schools failing to provide quality infrastructure and teachers, the Punjab State Education Board (PSEB) on Wednesday decided to close 174 associate schools with immediate effect.
Associate schools are private schools affiliated with the education board. Their recognition is renewed every year.
The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of education board officials.
PSEB chairpersom Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal said: “These schools have failed to meet the conditions laid down by the board for recognition. These schools don’t have proper infrastructure or the required number of teachers and students. Thus, they are being closed with immediate effect.”
“The interest of the students would be safeguarded and their education won’t be allowed to suffer due to the closure of these schools,” she added.
There are about 2,136 associate schools operating in Punjab. After the implementation of the Right to Education Act, the PSEB is trying to ensure that proper facilities and adequate staff are provided at such schools. The board had demanded self-appraisal forms from associate schools to check the available infrastructure in such institutions.
The board had also sought online self-declarations from these schools on whether they fulfil all terms and conditions. After schools submitted their declarations, teams were constituted for inspection.
{{/usCountry}}The board had also sought online self-declarations from these schools on whether they fulfil all terms and conditions. After schools submitted their declarations, teams were constituted for inspection.
{{/usCountry}}“The inspection revealed that documents of 901 schools were satisfactory and these institutions will be allowed to operate,” said the chairperson.
Shortcomings were found in about 1,020 associate schools. “Such schools have been given three months to remove these shortcomings,” she added.