Date:23/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/23/stories/2007102361690300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

11 schools yet to fulfil board norms, denied recognition

R.Krishnamoorthy

TIRUCHI: Only 11 nursery schools remain in the list of unrecognised institutions this year in official records.

The number of recognised nursery schools in Tiruchi district rose up meteorically from 132 to 291 last year, after institutions fulfilled the norms set by the School Education Department during 2004-05 in the wake of the Kumbakonam fire tragedy.

The schools were required to submit four certificates: stability certificate from a practising engineer, licence from the tahsildar concerned, fire safety certificate from the Fire and Rescue Services Department and sanitation certificate from the sanitary inspector.

The 11 schools in the list of unrecognised institutions are yet to adhere to the norms. Notices have been sent to them, according to S. Subramanian, Assistant Elementary Educational Officer. The students of the institutions face problems while seeking admission in other schools. Every year, the students are admitted as private candidates only after the government issues a special order.

The number of recognised nursery schools has gone down from 291 to 286 during the current academic year. While two have been upgraded into matriculation schools, three have been closed down due to poor student strength.

The Office of the District Elementary Educational Officer has received five new applications for starting nursery schools. Of them, four are likely to be approved, official sources said, ruling out the possibility for substantial rise in the number of nursery schools in future.

Incidences of nursery schools upgrading into matriculation schools are far and few in between. Only those managements with a sound financial backing succeed in their attempt. Unlike in the case of nursery schools, which can be managed successfully with seven teachers, the number of teachers rise manifold when it takes the shape of a matriculation school.

Alongside ensuring adherence to the norms, the elementary education department has also been taking care to standardise the academic administration and practices in nursery schools. Handbooks providing details of how and what kinds of records should be maintained, code of regulation and the format of transfer certificate are being provided to the nursery schools over the past couple of years. Free CDs containing the standardised syllabi up to fifth standard have been distributed.