Number of unrecognized private schools in Anantnag on rise

Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Dec 17: With Education Department failing in keeping a check on rising number of schools, dozens of new unrecognized schools have come up in district Anantnag under the nose of the administration.
These schools, are per the officials, are unrecognized and have come up in all the zones of the district. The figures suggest that there are more than 400 private schools that are functional in the district and are recognized by the Department of Education and there are at present more than 50 such schools functional in the district.
Further, as per SRO 123, if there is one school functional at one place-whether private or Govt-no other school can be established within its one kilometer radius. The insiders informed Excelsior that in order to secure the recognition, the schools have to obtain the feasibility report.
There are around 12 educational zones in district Anantnag and in almost every zone, particularly, Dooru, Achabal and Shangus, such schools have come up. “Apart from new schools, there are some schools which have been recognized up to class-5, however, they have upgraded their schools without a nod upto class-8 and class-10,” they added.
As per the norms, the recognized schools are the members of the Private Schools Association which is functional in J&K. An office bearer of the Association told Excelsior that they have time and again raised the issue with the administration; however, nothing has been done so far in the direction.
The Chief Education Officer (CEO), Anantnag, Abdul Roub Shad, told Excelsior that a team will be formed in coming days which will conduct inspection of all these newly established schools and will take appropriate action in this regard.
He, however, said that there is mushroom growth of schools in the district but assured that every new educational institute will be made to comply with the rules laid down.