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NEW DELHI: Heads of private schools met on Tuesday in an effort towards "self-regulation" which the action committee for unaided recognized private schools had planned after a high court order upheld their autonomy regarding nursery admissions. The panel constituted an "admissions criteria committee" and a "grievance committee" and will seek suggestions from parents through their website.
The admissions committee, consisting of seven to eight principals, has been given seven days to formulate guidelines for admissions. The committee's president S K Bhattacharya said it does not imply they were "fixing the criteria." "We are only trying to decide on parameters. Schools may decide what they need and assign points accordingly. That will allow more flexibility," he added.
These criterion are not legally binding. "These will be morally binding," he said. The grievance committee will handle complaints. Committee's lawyer Kamal Gupta said it will consist of retired IAS and IPS officers, and judges.
The admissions committee, consisting of seven to eight principals, has been given seven days to formulate guidelines for admissions. The committee's president S K Bhattacharya said it does not imply they were "fixing the criteria." "We are only trying to decide on parameters. Schools may decide what they need and assign points accordingly. That will allow more flexibility," he added.
These criterion are not legally binding. "These will be morally binding," he said. The grievance committee will handle complaints. Committee's lawyer Kamal Gupta said it will consist of retired IAS and IPS officers, and judges.
Indian Express -Express News Service | New Delhi | Posted: December 3, 2014 3:56 am
Private schools have decided to formulate a common admission policy for all schools to follow this year. The committee for unaided schools has also said it will act strongly against any school found to be taking donations during the admission season.
“In order to make the system more transparent, we have decided to evolve a common admission policy that will contain broad terms of reference for all schools to follow this nursery admission season. We have already constituted a committee to do this and the committee will submit its report by December 7,” S K Bhattacharya, president of the action committee for unaided private schools, said.
He said once ratified, schools will be given directions to follow them. “We have also decided to form a redressal cell to address parent grievances related to admissions. The cell, consisting of seven people, will be independent, consisting of retired bureaucrats and government officials. We understand that we need to self-regulate ourselves and this is a step in that direction ,” Bhattacharya added.
The body will put up all information related to the guidelines on its website and will also direct schools to put them up on their notice boards.
Maintaining that the guidelines will be “flexible and offer maximum autonomy to schools”, the committee has also said that it will act strongly against any school found to be taking donations during the admission season.
“We will not be dictating any rules, but just communicating parameters within which all schools can make their admission criteria. That said, it will be communicated to schools that the committee does not support collecting donations, building fund or capitation fee during admission season. Parents can file complaints of schools found asking donations with the grievance cell,” Bhattacharya said.
Although schools have welcomed the move, some have expressed apprehension over how it will be executed. “It’s a good move and will streamline the nursery admission process. Parents will no longer have to run from pillar to post,” Jyoti Arora, principal, Mount Abu School, Rohini, said.
“It’s all a question of autonomy. As long as schools are given autonomy, it works. But we will only know how good the policy is once the guidelines are out,” principal of a leading school told Newsline, wishing not to be named.
“It looks like a good move on the face of it. But we will have to see what schools come out with,” Pooja Thakur, a parent from East Delhi, sai
