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Censure schools violating nursery norms, PIL pleads in HC

Indian Express, 17 December 2007

New Delhi: An NGO has moved the Delhi High Court alleging many private, unaided schools in the city are violating nursery admission norms, as set by the Directorate of Education (DoE).

In its Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on Monday, the School Choice Campaign (SCC) has pleaded with the High Court to intervene and take action against errant schools. The case would be heard on Wednesday.

Launched in 2007, SCC is a nationwide initiative formed by the Centre of Civil Society. Last week, it started Action for School Admission Reforms (ASAR) to help parents take their complaints to the authorities. The ASAR has so far received 17 complaints, and they are part of the PIL, SSC associate director R Baladevan said.

Lack of transparency in the points system and schools interviewing children in violation of DoE guidelines are among the complaints in the PIL, Baladevan said.

A recent ASSOCHAM study had found that schools in the city had made more than Rs 5,000 crore just by selling prospectus and registration forms between 2000 and 2008. The average cost of these forms, the study found, was Rs 500 — by law, schools cannot charge more than Rs 25 per form.

According to the PIL, many private recognised and unaided schools are violating DoE guidelines, and some are going against the Supreme Court’s order by interviewing children.

A DoE circular had asked schools to issue forms from December 15 to 31 and accept completed forms until January 7. But most schools contend they were granted autonomy regarding schedule and admission guidelines last year and are, thus, not bound by DoE’s schedule. School officials say they are only required to inform the authorities of their schedule and admission criterion.

“If autonomy is the issue, then they (schools) must inform the parents,” Baladevan said. “What is the point if a school and DoE have this conversation in secret?”

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