Nearly 200 private schools across 25 districts in Assam could face rejection of their recognition applications over inadequate campus land, improper land documents and pending inspection reports, although education authorities have said the institutions will not be shut down immediately.
The education department has issued notices to the affected schools after the Administrative Recognition Committee rejected their applications for allegedly failing to meet requirements under the Assam Non-Govt Educational Institutions (Regulation and Management) Act, 2006, as amended in 2018. The exact deficiencies in each case have not yet been officially detailed.
An education department official told the Times of India that inadequate land area and missing or improper land documents were the main concerns. In some cases, the official said, the concerned inspector of schools had not submitted the inspection report to the directorate. Most of the affected institutions currently have provisional recognition but have not secured final recognition.
The land requirements vary according to the school’s location and level. Lower primary and middle schools must have at least two bighas in one plot in rural areas and one bigha in municipal and town committee areas. High, higher secondary, senior secondary and composite schools are required to have three bighas in rural areas and one bigha in municipal and town committee areas in rural locations, while the requirement is one bigha in municipal and town committee areas.
Schools operating from multi-storey buildings must also comply with the relevant government building by-laws. This makes recognition dependent not only on academic or administrative conditions but also on the availability, ownership and documentation of land and the physical compliance of school buildings.
The issue has raised concern among students and guardians, particularly in districts where private schools provide a significant share of local schooling options. More than 20 schools in Dibrugarh could be affected, according to the report. However, education authorities have sought to reassure families that the notices do not amount to an immediate closure order.
Education minister Ranoj Pegu said the 2006 Act sets requirements for institutions operated by private organisations, societies, trusts and other entities. He said schools apply online and their applications are examined by the relevant committee, with the Directorate of Education and the Assam State School Education Board also involved in the process.
According to Pegu, schools are granted permission subject to specified conditions and are allowed to continue their activities on that basis. He said institutions that do not initially meet the conditions are given an opportunity to fulfil the requirements rather than being closed immediately.
The next stage will depend on how the schools respond to the notices, whether pending inspection reports are submitted and whether the institutions can establish compliance with the land, documentation and building requirements laid down by the state.
