The Department of School Education and Literacy in Bengaluru has issued a significant directive, ordering officials to launch a comprehensive drive to identify and report schools operating without proper authorisation. This move aims to bring order and ensure compliance with state educational standards.
What Makes a School Unauthorised?
The department has outlined several specific criteria that classify a school as unauthorised. The primary violation is a school not being registered under the Karnataka Education Act of 1983. Furthermore, a school may be deemed illegal if it upgrades the classes it offers without obtaining the necessary official permission from the authorities.
Another major area of concern is the operation of multiple educational boards on a single campus. Many institutions, even those authorised to teach only the state board curriculum, have been found following different boards, using textbooks from other boards, or employing a medium of instruction that differs from what was originally permitted in their official documents.
Other Grounds for Being Declared Unauthorised
The scope of the crackdown extends beyond just registration and board affiliation. Officials have been instructed to also flag institutions that fall into the following categories:
- Schools that have failed to obtain a renewal of their recognition from the department.
- Institutions that have increased their number of sections or student intake without seeking proper permission.
- Schools that have physically relocated to a new premises without authorisation.
- Institutions that have been transferred to a different trust or management without official approval.
Any school operating with more than one board on the same premises is explicitly targeted in this directive, regardless of its other permissions.
Implications and Next Steps
This decisive action by the education department underscores its commitment to upholding the standards set by the Karnataka Education Act. The identification of such unauthorised schools is a critical first step towards ensuring that all educational institutions in Bengaluru adhere to a uniform set of rules and provide quality education that meets state guidelines. This initiative is expected to bring greater accountability and transparency to the city's school education system, protecting the interests of students and parents.
