Private schools in Chennai seek permanent recognition, easier building rules; write to CM

Chennai: Action against schools running multiple branches despite having approval for just one unit, exempting existing school buildings from obtaining periodic approvals from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and granting permanent recognition to schools functioning for more than 10 years are among the key demands placed by private schools to the new govt.In a letter addressed to chief minister C Joseph Vijay, the Federation of Private Schools Association (FePSA), representing over 3,000 private self-financing schools, said more than 5,000 schools were facing difficulties due to non-renewal of recognitions and called for expediting the process."In earlier years, renewal camps were conducted at the zonal level and renewal orders were issued every year under the scrutiny of the school education minister. However, for the past four to five years, even when all applications are submitted online with certificates, renewal orders are not issued for years together. Even schools with DTCP approval do not get renewal certificates," said M Arumugam, FePSA president.The association further said that obtaining DTCP approvals was in itself an arduous process. "Nowhere in the rules of the school education department is it stated that school buildings must obtain DTCP approval. Therefore, insisting that already functioning school buildings, which obtained permission and recognition earlier, must now secure DTCP approval is a violation of rules and consumes a lot of time," he added.Additionally, the department must ensure that the current system of renewing recognition every three years should be modified to once every five years. "RTE reimbursements should be disbursed in two instalments in the same year without delay," the circular added.