– Mita Mukherjee

The Bengal government has decided to inspect all private unaided schools affiliated with various boards and councils in the state to see if the institutions have valid No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the state government, according to an order issued by the school education department.

The order says the state government will prepare a comprehensive data-base of private unaided schools in Bengal to strengthen “monitoring” and “regulatory oversight” of such institutions.

The decision has been taken after a review meeting recently held by the school education department where chief minister Suvendu Adhikari was present. During the meeting, a serious concern was expressed regarding reports that a number of private schools under different boards including the CBSE and CISCE are functioning without obtaining the prescribed No Objection Certificate (NOC) and many are not complying with the provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and the West Bengal Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2012.

The order directs district inspector of schools to conduct regular inspection of private unaided schools along with government institutions to check whether they have the NOCs and review the status of the facilities available in the institutions.

The inspection parameters will include student enrolment, availability of qualified teachers, teacher student ratio, infrastructure and classroom facilities, fire safety arrangements and emergency preparedness, building safety and structural condition, drinking water and sanitation facilities, barrier free accessibility, library laboratory and playground facilities and compliance with the provisions of RTE Act. 2009 and West Bengal RTE Rules 2012.

The database which the inspectors prepare must clearly indicate information such as name and address of schools, name of the board or council they are affiliated with, UDISE Code, NOC recognition status issued by state government, classes conducted, institutions UDISE Code.

The database will have to be prepared utilising the UDISE + Banglar Siksha Portal.

Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari had recently said that there is a need to establish government control on regulating private school fees. He had urged private schools to not do anything that would embarrass the government and also to ensure that parents of students coming from ordinary families do not face any problem educating their wards in such schools.

A Google form was communicated separately by the school education directorate on Thursday to all private schools to facilitate collection and verification of the required information. Each of the schools will be required to furnish the prescribed information through the Google form.

Government sources said strong administrative action will be taken against schools if they are found operating without having prescribed NOC.

In an earlier order issued early this month, the state government had warned private schools of stern action if they fail to upload enrolment details on the Uniform District Information System Portal which is integrated with state’s Banglar Shiksha Portal.

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