North East India might see mushrooming of private schools sans quality

North East India might see mushrooming of private schools sans quality

GUWAHATI: Fear of mushrooming of private schools sans quality in the North Eastern States is looming large following the decision of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to stop inspecting the physical infrastructure in affiliation-seeking schools.

The CBSE has amended its affiliation rules, deciding to rely on the school inspections done by district administration officials. The national board has so far conducted its own inspection of the physical infrastructure of an affiliation-seeking school after district officials had inspected it and the institution had obtained a no-objection certificate from the State Government.

“A large number of private schools have already been set up particularly in Assam without creating the basic minimum necessary physical infrastructures for quality education and overall well being of students. Many of the existing CBSE schools do not have their own land and functioning at rented accommodation. Think what will happen in case the CBSE stops inspecting these schools and the schools that are queue to apply for affiliation,” a principal of a leading Guwahati school said.

A retired teacher said relying solely on the school inspections done by district administration officials will be a blunder on the part of the CBSE. “Inspection by district administration officials can be manipulated and biased,” he said.

In order to acquire the CBSE affiliation a school must own a minimum area of land as per its location and the region it stands in. The premise must hold a constructed building on one part of the land and ample playing & open space on the remaining part of the land. A school situated in a hilly area or in a city with the total population of more than 25 lakhs, the minimum land required for the school is 1 acre. While for schools in cities with the resident population of less than 25 lakhs, the land area should be minimum 2 acres.

The affiliation seeking school should have classrooms big enough to ensure comfort to students and teachers. It should have ample and suitable furniture like chairs tables, lecture stands, cupboards, desks, organising stands, etc. for the classrooms, faculty rooms, and office to match the needs and comfort of all the students, teachers and other staff members. There must also be proper space for extracurricular activities like stage area, sports ground, courts, etc. This should be supported by the needed equipment and facilities.

As per the amended affiliation rules the CBSE will now only hold inspection of the academic outcome of the affiliation seeking schools. A team from the board will visit the applicant school to see whether it has enough teachers, whether the teachers are adequately trained, and whether the quality of teaching is up to the mark.

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