Bengaluru : The Karnataka Private School-College Parent Organisations Coordinating Committee has urged the state govt to reject the interim report of the special house committee chaired by MLC Puttanna, alleging that its recommendations to relax regulatory requirements for schools could compromise child safety and the quality of education.
A detailed representation lists 14 objections.
It said easing these standards in the name of administrative simplification would put children and parents at risk for the benefit of school managements. It said measures such as eliminating duplicate documentation, a single-window system, timely disposal of applications, protecting teachers’ salaries and timely Right to Education (RTE) reimbursements could be implemented separately. It says the report views school education through “ease of doing business” and does not adequately show consultation with parents, child rights bodies and safety experts. It said granting exemptions to rule-violating institutions on the basis of children’s future runs counter to a Supreme Court verdict.
In a representation dated Friday, the committee objected to recommendations concerning school accreditation, fire safety, building stability and other regulatory requirements. The committee stressed that the need to simplify school administration should not take precedence over children’s right to safe and quality education. The committee also called for legal action against school managements violating important orders and regulations of the education department.