Govt says 79 Gurugram schools illegal but real number ‘much higher’

GURUGRAM: The education department listed 79 schools in the city as “not recognised” last year but the number, according to an association of private schools, is much higher.

There are 350 recognised schools whereas 400 schools in Gurugram are running without recognition, it said.

Educationists said that getting recognition was no child’s play. Yashpal Yadav, president of Haryana Sikshan Sansthan Sangthan (an association of private schools) said, “First, schools need 1-acre land. The next steps are to get a NOC from HSVP, and to get permission for construction of the school building. Then they have to apply for recognition from the education department.”

Also, schools get recognition for 10 years after which they have to re-apply.

The education department has said that it will put up a list of all schools that do not have recognition on its website this year and that is under process.

However, Yadav said, “Officials never step out to count the number of schools.” Rekha Yadav, the director of CD International Public School said, “Small schools are running out of houses. The education department hasn’t done a survey of such schools.”

The education department said that it was not its job to count schools. Sushil Gaur, the block education officer said, “All schools have to apply for recognition on the Management Information System (MIS) portal. If they don’t, they are operating illegally.” Premlata Yadav, the district elementary education officer said, “We send notices to schools which run without our approval. Most applications for recognition are rejected because one or the other rule is not followed. Any school running till Class 12 and making students sit for board exams in the name of another school, will be penalised.”

However, Raj Pal, director, Vidya Sagar Public School, Chakkarpur, said, “I have been running this school from nursery till Class 8 since 2007. Every year, I apply for recognition but it gets rejected because my property doesn’t have change of landuse from private to institutional. No one is issuing the same.” Most students transfer to other schools after Class 8.