Karnataka - Bangalore

Many schools under KUSMA do not opt for scheme

B.S. Ramesh

High Court is scheduled to decide on KUSMA’s appeal today

BANGALORE: Nearly 700 of the 2,200 primary schools in the State have opted for the voluntary scheme formulated by the State Government which ended on June 15, 2007.

The scheme was formulated on April 12, 2007 under which primary schools that had violated the norms on the medium of instruction would once again be granted recognition on payment of penalty and on giving an undertaking to teach students in the medium of instruction in which they had been permitted to operate.

Official sources told The Hindu on Saturday that 210 schools in Bangalore city, including 120 in Bangalore South and 90 in Bangalore north, had opted for the scheme. As on June 15, 672 schools had opted for the scheme and Education Department officials said details of schools that had opted for the scheme was yet to come in from some districts.

They said in the case of Chikmagalur district, nine of the 11 primary schools that had filed petitions against the notices of derecognition had accepted the scheme.

They said scores of other schools had decided to accept the scheme and almost all of them had given an undertaking to the Karnataka High Court that they would teach students only in the language in which they had been permitted to operate.

The sources said the notices of derecognition of primary schools that had violated the medium of instruction would automatically stand cancelled once they accepted the scheme. In case, the institutions choose to given an undertaking before the High Court, the court would stay the derecognition. Either way, the schools would have to apply afresh for recognition and they would be considered as new schools. While a majority of schools coming under the umbrella of Karnataka Unaided Schools Management Association (KUSMA) have not opted for the scheme, several of their institutions have gone ahead and accepted the scheme as they have already made admissions and the academic year has already commenced.

However, other schools are eagerly waiting for the decision of the High Court scheduled for Monday before taking any decision.

While KUSMA has challenged the validity of the scheme, saying that it is not really voluntary and schools not opting for it face the threat of derecognition, other schools have challenged the language policy.

Legal experts point out that though the High Court is yet to give a decision on KUSMA’s appeal against a single judge order, there is no order of stay of derecognition. The Government, therefore, can proceed further after derecognising the institutions which have not fallen in line by either giving an undertaking before the court or opting for the scheme.

The Education Department, however, is likely to wait for the outcome of the appeal before initiating action.

The department is likely to keep the heat on errant institutions by issuing notices under the Education Act asking them why the recognition should not be withdrawn. Once recognition is withdrawn, schools cannot function.

If they persist in conducting classes, criminal action can be taken against them.

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