Karnataka Regularises 101 Unauthorised Schools

Dec. 30, 2024, 10:28 a.m.

In 2023-24, the Karnataka government regularised 101 out of 993 unauthorised schools across the state. However, none of these schools were in Bengaluru, despite having a significant number of unauthorised institutions. The Department of School Education and Literacy identified unauthorised schools due to issues like operating without registration, teaching central syllabus without permission, or conducting both state and central syllabus classes without appropriate approvals. Schools with minor, easily rectifiable violations were given time to comply and get regularised.

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The highest number of schools regularised were in Chitradurga (82), followed by Belagavi (9), Chikkaballapura (4), Chikkodi (2), Dharwad (2), Bagalkot (1), and Gadag (1). Despite Bengaluru South having 172 unauthorised schools, Bengaluru North 141, and Bengaluru Rural 29, none were regularised. Commissioner for Public Instruction, B.B. Cauvery stated that only schools with minor violations, such as teaching in the wrong medium or upgrading syllabi without permission, were regularised. Focus is now shifting to more serious violations, including unregistered schools.

Educationists in Bengaluru expressed concerns about the transparency of the regularisation process. D. Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools, argued that while over a hundred schools have been regularised, the government has not provided details on the criteria for regularisation. He pointed out that major issues in Bengaluru include infrastructure problems, land conversion, fire safety, and improper permissions from multiple boards. Shashi Kumar criticised the regularisation process as potentially corrupt and called for greater transparency. He also suggested that the state should work with CBSE and ICSE to cancel licenses of unauthorised schools operating under these boards. The lack of detailed reporting on why specific schools were regularised raises questions about the integrity and fairness of the process.