PANAJI
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has launched a crackdown on unrecognized pre-primary and playschools, imparting formal education, operated by various organizations. So far, a total of four such schools have been issued show cause notices.
The Department had in March instructed all pre-primary schools including nursery and playschools across the State to get mandatory recognition from the government for its functioning as part of the National Education Policy (NEP). Until now, no such recognition was needed to run any pre-primary or playschool in Goa.
Speaking to The Goan, Director Shailesh Zingade said the Department has so far come across four unrecognized schools which were found imparting formal education. “We have issued them show cause notices. Necessary action would be initiated as per law,” he said.
Zingade said that the Department does not have any data of such schools and hence has to rely on complaints from parents or citizens. “It is very unfortunate that despite we warning parents, there are many who are sending their children to such unrecognized schools,” he said.
Zingade urged parents to verify the antecedents of the schools on permission and recognition status before enrolling their children. “If the schools are without recognition and are imparting formal education, we will shut them,” he said, assuring that kids would be accommodated in the recognised schools.
Operating schools without recognition is a punishable offence as per the NEP with a fine up to Rs 50,000 and if the violation continues, the schools will be subject to a daily penalty of up to Rs 10,000.
Under the guidelines of NEP 2020, the government has made the recognition of play or pre-primary schools mandatory.
As reported earlier, the department had noted that there are several pre-primary schools operating from homes, garages and other residential premises which have got no facilities.
As of date, more than 700 pre-primary schools are registered while another 800 plus have applied online for registration of which a feasibility study is conducted with regards to 400 schools.
