Assam to bring in special Act to rein in private schools

GUWAHATI, MAR 31: Assam government will bring in a special Act to rein in the operations of private schools, which are allegedly charging exorbitant fees and not giving salaries to teachers as per norms.
Replying to a query by AGP MLA Keshab Mahanta during the Question Hour, Education Minister Sarat Borkotoky said private English medium schools are not following the norms regulated to building, land, safety, fees structure and salaries of teachers among others.
“I will talk to the Chief Minister and see how to handle this. We will try to control them by enacting a special Act,” Borkotoky said.
He alleged the schools do not even respond to any communication by the Ministers.
“They charge very high fees from students but still do not give salaries to teachers as per norms. Most of the schools are also not following set rules in appointment of teachers like B Ed qualified faculty members,” Borkotoky said.
He said currently 1,167 private schools, excluding play schools, and 420 private junior colleges are in the state.
The Assam government permits a private education institute to start operations if it has own land or land with at least 20-years of lease and does not allow to operate from a rented accommodation.
“To get permission, a private institute has to fulfill the norms under The Assam Non-Government Educational Institution (Regulation and Management) Act 2006 and Rule 2007. For elementary education, permission has to be obtained under RTE Act 2009,” the Minister said.
He, however, said there is no direction in these Acts and Rule about fees structure and salaries of teachers.
“There are some directions from the Supreme Court regarding controlling of the private institutes and the Deputy Commissioners of the districts take steps in their implementation,” Borkotoky said.
Mahanta also suggested the government to consider the operations of private educational institute as an industry and strictly apply the norms of an industry like minimum wages.
On Congress MLA Bhupen Kumar Borah’s query if the government will consider taking steps in reservation of seats for poor meritorious students in private schools, the Minister replied in positive. (Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/assam-to-bring-in-special-act-to-reign-in-private-schools/article7052751.ece)

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