Visakhapatnam: The school education department in the state has shifted its attention to unrecognised private unaided schools as the new academic year approaches. Despite obtaining affiliation only from the state board, some schools continue to offer CBSE and ICSE classes, with students appearing for exams under a different school’s name. The presence of numerous unrecognised schools poses a challenge as it violates the Right to Education Act, and officials and academicians are urging parents to be cautious to prevent their children from losing a valuable academic year.
S Suresh Kumar, the school education commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, acknowledged the issue of unauthorised CBSE/ICSE schools. He emphasized that this practice goes against government regulations and highlighted the online application process for school recognition, available on the website https://cse.ap.gov.in/PSIS. The commissioner issued an order directing district officials to take action against unrecognised schools.
Kumar further emphasized the need for inspections at unauthorised schools offering state syllabus, stating that permission can be obtained through a streamlined single-window system. The online application process aims to expedite the procedure and eliminate unnecessary delays, ensuring a smoother experience for applicants.
The school education department typically conducts special drives against unauthorised schools at the beginning of the academic year, leaving parents in a difficult situation. Despite admitting their children to a private school without recognition, paying fees, and purchasing stationery and uniforms, parents often find themselves forced to transfer their children to another private or government school due to the closure of unauthorised schools. However, this transition can be financially burdensome, requiring additional expenses for fees, books, uniforms, and more.
Narava Prakasa Rao, state convenor of the RTE Forum, emphasized the need to close unrecognised schools before the start of the new academic year. He suggested that making this information publicly available would help parents and students avoid falling into the trap of such schools and prevent negative consequences.