Prayagraj Schools Given Week To Justify Unauthorised Classes Or Face FIR

The joint director of education for the Prayagraj division has issued notices to a few district schools for conducting classes without prior approval. The schools in question were granted licence to offer sessions from class 1 to class 8 but were found to be illegally conducting classes from 9 to 12.

These schools have been given a week to provide clarification, failing which the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), Prayagraj has been asked to pursue legal action against them following the stipulations included in the Council’s regulations, as well as record an FIR. Reportedly, these schools may potentially lose recognition if they run classes from 1 through 8.

Following public concerns, Dibyakant Shukla, the joint director of education, instructed the District Inspector of Schools (II) in Prayagraj to visit the five schools. Reportedly, it was found that Jyotiba Rao Phule (JRP) Public School; Narsinghpur Chakia Naini; SS Memorial Public School Nibi, Naini; Geeta Gyan Mandir (GGM) Convent School Gauhania, Jasra; National Convent School Ghurpur, Jasra and Gyan Bharti School Deoria, Bhita Jasra were running classes 9 to 12, even though they are only permitted to run classes until 8.

“Regulation 11-A of the Council provides that only after obtaining recognition from the Council, the institutions will admit students only in approved classes/subjects. Admission of unauthorised students of any other unrecognised institution or coaching institute by the institutions will be irregular and illegal,” said the joint director of education, Shukla as quoted by the Times of India.

Last year, the Uttar Pradesh government initiated a drive to combat unrecognised schools in the state. The Yogi Adityanath-led administration decided to detect fraudulent schools and take strong action against them. During this campaign, all unrecognised schools will have to deal with the repercussions of operating without accreditation. They will face a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.

The Directorate of Basic Education had instructed all Basic Education Officers to run an intense campaign in their respective blocks and to take strong action against any school that is functioning without recognition.