As admission time draws closer in Karnataka, fear grips parents and students over the unauthorised functioning of schools in the state, even facing potential closure. According to a survey by the Department of School Education and Literacy, as many as 1,695 unauthorised schools were found to be functioning across the state between 2022-23. However, out of the 1695 unauthorised schools, 793 schools have been regularised after the submission of proper documents from the school authorities. While around 50 per cent of the schools among 1695 are yet to be regularised because they are yet to submit the documents, the department added.
This means that unauthorised schools which claim to be offering CBSE or CICSE syllabi only have permission to offer state syllabi. Schools that are permitted to offer classes from only grades 1 to 5 allegedly conduct classes for higher grades as well and they also are involved in various other violations of norms under the Karnataka Education Act 1983.
B.B Cauvery, Commissioner, Department of Public Instruction said that “strict action will be taken against unauthorized schools after the fresh survey. Even after giving sufficient time to most schools, 50 per cent of schools among 1695 unauthorized schools (as of 2022-2023) have still failed to submit the proper documents for authorization. The Block Education officers too are instructed to identify the unauthorized schools in their respective zones and take action immediately.”
Shalini Thampi is a worried mother as she alleges that she was cheated by a school that claimed that it was affiliated with the CBSE syllabus while it is a state syllabus school.
“Got my child admitted to the school this academic year 2023-2024. In December, we realized that something was off. As the books came late, exams were not happening. In December, school authorities called up and said they were shutting down due to financial issues. But we have paid a huge amount. Moreover, all parents also realized that the school is not CBSE affiliated, and it is a state syllabus school”, explained Thampi.
Another parent, Anoop M claims that they are unaware of mechanisms to cross-verify what schools claim during the admission time and the education department should release a list of authorised schools so that parents are cautious. “It is a serious issue because the students’ career is at stake in such a situation. The government should not encourage such unauthorised schools to function and immediately release the list of authorized schools in the state which is a long pending demand”, said Anoop M.
The State Parent Association has also raised serious allegations of corruption against the schools that are functioning illegally. “Looks like the government is in support of these unauthorised schools because no action has been taken so far. For the past 2 years, the government has the list but they aren’t releasing it. These unauthorised school owners are running their business here,” said BN Yogananda, President of the Karnataka Private School-College Parent Associations Coordinator Committee.
Following the concerns of parents, the Education Department assured News18 that a fresh survey will start after this academic year, and draws to a close after April 2024. Schools that are found violating any norm under the Karnataka Education Act 1983 will have to face action from the department.
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