Chandigarh, May 7
Speaking at the Chandigarh Press Club, Kulbhushan Sharma, State President of the Federation of Private Schools Welfare Association and National President of NISA, emphasized the urgent need for a lasting resolution to the long-standing issue of unrecognized private schools. He pointed out that many of these schools have had their cases pending with the Aadhaar system for over two decades. As a result, every year during the admission period in April and the board exam season, these schools face uncertainty regarding their operations. This ongoing pressure diverts their focus from improving education quality to making repeated appeals to government officials to ensure their survival.
Sharma noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power in Haryana for over ten years and had promised in its manifesto to address this issue permanently. However, thousands of private schools across the state are still awaiting meaningful relief. He urged Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, who has been offering relief to various sections of society, to convene a meeting with private school representatives and address their concerns without further delay.
Private schools have also been in regular contact with Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, raising awareness about their challenges. Sharma proposed that schools operating since before 2011 should be granted recognition under the Right to Education Act, based on the infrastructure they currently have. This would help integrate all such schools into the mainstream education system. For those unable to meet certain norms, he recommended that they be given sufficient time and permitted to relocate according to the older regulations.
He further criticized the actions of officials in some districts, who, citing specific orders, are allegedly pressuring school authorities, which Sharma described as unacceptable in a civilized society. He called on the Chief Minister and Education Minister to step in immediately to stop the harassment and threats of FIRs against private school staff, and to engage directly with school representatives to find a permanent and just resolution.
