The landscape of private school education in Odisha has witnessed a concerning surge in institutions operating without official sanction. Data from the education ministry reveals that the number of unrecognised privately-run schools in the state has ballooned from 428 in 2016 to over 1,200 in the 2024-25 academic session. This alarming three-fold increase highlights a significant regulatory challenge.
A National Problem with Odisha in Focus
This issue is not confined to Odisha alone but is a pan-India phenomenon. Across the country, a staggering total of 19,518 unrecognised schools were operational during the 2024-25 academic year. Jharkhand leads this dubious list with 5,701 such schools, followed by Bihar (4,159), West Bengal (3,555), Assam (2,475), and Odisha with 1,242 schools. Within Odisha, the state's own data pinpoints 1,242 unrecognised institutions.
These schools have been functioning for years, either without an initial opening permission or a mandatory Certificate of Recognition (CoR). Official sources confirm that despite repeated directives from the school and mass education department, these institutions have failed to comply with required standards. A breakdown shows 510 schools running without opening permission and 732 operating without a valid CoR. Notably, districts like Nuapada, Puri, Dhenkanal, and Jajpur have managed to stay clear of such schools.
Legal Mandates and Ground Realities
The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, under Section 19, clearly stipulates that schools established before the Act must fulfil prescribed norms within three years of its commencement. The law mandates that if schools fail to meet these norms, their recognition must be withdrawn, forcing them to cease operations. However, this provision appears to be largely ignored on the ground.
Bhumohan Bebarta Patnaik, President of the National Parents’ Federation, criticised the situation, stating that norms are not being followed in true letter and spirit. "Studying in such schools deprives students of applying for government scholarships or securing admission to any public school in the country," he emphasised. The CoR, granted for five years, requires schools to meet stringent rules on infrastructure, manpower, and RTE Act reservations.
Patnaik pointed out a common tactic of delay: "Deviation from even one rule disqualifies them from getting a CoR, but on the plea of fulfilling these norms, the schools keep delaying the application process while continuing admissions year after year."
Administrative Response and Proposed Solution
In response to the growing problem, the department is considering a significant procedural change. Commissioner-cum-Secretary N Thirumala Naik stated that they are looking into keeping the application window for opening permission and CoR open throughout the year. Previously, this window was limited to a fortnight or one month. "This will increase the number of applications for the purpose," Naik said, indicating a move towards making compliance more accessible rather than solely punitive.
The persistence of thousands of unrecognised schools poses serious questions about educational quality, student welfare, and the effective enforcement of the RTE Act. While authorities propose administrative easing, the core issue of ensuring all schools meet basic standards remains a critical challenge for the education system both in Odisha and nationally.
