Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Owners and teachers of private schools, as well as their students along with their parents, held a demonstration on the premises of the Rajya Shiksha Kendra (RSK) in the city on Tuesday, protesting against the state government’s decision denying recognition to around 8,000 private schools in the state.
The demonstration was recorded in a video, in which the teachers and the students can be seen raising slogans like 'humare school chaalu karo,' and more.
Check out the video below :
Raising slogans like ‘Hum Shiksha Ka Adhikar Maangte, Nahi Kisi Se Bheek Mangte,’ ‘Humara School Chalu Karo,’ and ‘Gareeb Bachchon Ko Nyay Do,’ the protestors from 40 districts alleged that the closure of 8,000 schools would deprive lakhs of poor and middle-class students of education.
They also said that it would lead to a reduction of one lakh in the number of RTE seats in the state.
Treasurer of Madhya Pradesh Private School Association, Monu Tomar, said that of the 25,000 private schools in the state, recognition has been given to just 16,000, creating a crisis for the students of derecognised schools, their parents, and the teachers employed in them. “The total number of affected people runs into lakhs,” Tomar said.
The recognition of schools from Class 1 to Class 8 is handled by RSK. This year, the government has imposed some new conditions for granting recognition. Registered lease deeds have to be presented by schools operating from rented premises.
Besides, they are required to submit a security deposit of Rs 40,000. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed the order requiring submission of registered lease deeds. The school owners want that either their recognition should be extended by one year or they should be given five days to reapply.
Sunita Rai, owner of Rosy Public School, Bina, said, “My school is 30 years old. We have been denied recognition despite fulfilling all the required formalities in time.”
Kalpana Hardah, a parent from Mandla, said that her daughter was studying in Class 5. “Her school has been derecognised. It is an English medium school. I cannot admit her to a government school as it is located at a distance and moreover, the medium of instruction there is Hindi.” “I am a manual labourer, but I want my children to get a better life,” she added.
A 13-year-old, Akshat Khatri, a Class 8 student of a school in Pipariya, said that his school has been shut and his studies disrupted. “I don’t know what to do,” he added.
