Private School Regulation

Co-Creating a Policy Framework of Collaboration and Governance for Private Schools

• 0900 Hrs - 1730 Hrs
• Lineage Hotel, Lucknow

• Topic 1: Establishment and Recognition of Schools
• Topic 2: Management of Recognised Schools
• Topic 3: Admission and Fees
• Topic 4: School Monitoring and Accountability
• Topic 5: Grievance Redressal and Penal Actions
• Topic 6: Teacher Recruitment and Training

As per the latest U-DISE data, there is a considerable shift in enrolment from Government Schools to Private Schools in the State. In U.P., over 53% children are attending private schools while there is no regulatory body to control their functioning. Commercialization, monopoly, segregation, uncontrolled fee hike and parents’ harassment have been common complaints across the country especially among elite private schools while those at the bottom of the pile are offering no better quality than public schools. The evidence based on surveys suggests that the true size of private schools across Uttar Pradesh is massively underestimated in official data due to enumerating only recognized schools.

The increase in the demand for private education sectors has caused challenges both from demand and supply side and has thus resulted in growth of unrecognized private schools. These unrecognized schools are not homogenous in character and are neither affiliated to the education authorities nor registered with any other agency. It has become such a grave concern worldwide that United Nations too had to take notice and pass a resolution that was adopted during the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council (13th June to 1st July 2016), urging all States to “address any negative impacts of the commercialization of education”, by three pronged action:
— Put in place a regulatory framework in order to monitor and govern education providers
— Hold private education providers accountable for any negative impact on the right to education
— Support appropriate research

The broader vision behind this workshop was to identify ways to govern the Private educational sector by identifying measures to facilitate equitable access and hold these schools accountable to education of acceptable standards. It aimed at formulating a framework in order to develop a set of standards and jurisprudence for private educational institutions.

The workshop was intended to initiate a stakeholders’ dialogue on governing private schools with the aim to improve accountability, empower parents and community and maintain operational autonomy.

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