After receiving several complaints, the government had last week instructed all district education authorities to immediately identify unrecognised schools across the State.  

The School Education Department move came after hundreds of students found it difficult to write the Class 10 board examinations this year as they were enrolled in institutions functioning without the government’s permission. 

All government aided schools, private institutions, CBSE schools, ICSE schools, International Baccalaureate (IB) schools and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) need a recognition certificate from the State government. In addition, high and higher secondary schools should get a recognition certificate to send their students to attend board exams.

A senior official from the Directorate of School Education said several schools were functioning without required permission from Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) or Local Planning Authority (LPA) or Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). “The district education authorities found that 700 schools were yet to be recognised by the government,” he said. 

According to the official, the unrecognised schools will be given time to rectify the situation failing which student admissions would be stopped. He also pointed out that the schools would either be instructed to close down or to get at least temporary recognition immediately from the government. “In addition, notices would also be pasted at important places regarding the unrecognised schools in that particular area,” he said. The official said the Transport Department official would also withdraw fitness certificates to vehicles belonging to schools that are unrecognised.