Private schools to be regulated, Bill drafted

Parents not convinced about efficacy of laws

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Feb 27: State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the government is planning to bring a stringent law to regulate functioning of private schools which are allegedly charging exorbitant fees from students and paying poorly to teachers.

Sarma told reporters at Jata Bhawan here on Tuesday afternoon that the Education department has almost completed drafting the proposed legislation and it will soon be placed before the State Cabinet for approval. He said the next cabinet meeting is likely to approve the bill. If the bill is approved by the next cabinet meeting it is likely to be tabled in the current budget session of the Assembly.

Even though Sarma refused to divulge details of the proposed legislation, sources said the bill will have tough provisions to prevent private schools to function at their own whims and fancies.

“Two crucial components of the bill will be exorbitant fees and poor salaries to teachers. Other issues such social responsibilities of private schools, reservation of seats for economically underprivileged meritorious students and concession or waiver of fees for poor students will also be looked into,” a source said.

But parents and guardians are not very much convinced on Sarma’s announcement. Many guardians have alleged that an influential lobby of private schools is using their clouts in Dispur. “Under such circumstances we have doubts how much toughness the government can show to regulate private schools,” a guardian said.