- Thousands face closure as operators protest “Impractical” new rules
Bhopal: Thousands of private schools in Madhya Pradesh face imminent closure due to the state government’s newly imposed stringent regulations, triggering widespread protests across the state. On Wednesday, members of the Madhya Pradesh Private School Welfare Sanchalak Manch staged a demonstration outside the residence of School Education Minister, Rao Uday Pratap Singh, in Bhopal.
The protesters argue that the government’s new rules have made it nearly impossible for small and medium schools to survive. As a result, 4,820 schools have failed to apply for recognition, putting the jobs of 60,000 to 70,000 teachers at risk and jeopardizing the education of over 1.25 lakh underprivileged children enrolled under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
Impractical Recognition Requirements
Shailesh Tiwari, the state president of the Sanchalak Manch, highlighted several new requirements—such as registered lease agreements, security funds, and high fees—that small schools cannot fulfill. The registered lease agreement has proven to be a significant obstacle, with landlords unwilling to cooperate or demanding excessive rents. Tiwari called these new regulations unrealistic and financially burdensome for most schools.
Allegations of Discrimination
School operators from Jabalpur raised concerns over discrimination, claiming that schools with regular lease agreements were granted recognition, while others with notarized leases were denied. They also accused the government of deliberately undermining private schools by withholding RTE reimbursements since 2016 and imposing hefty fines for minor delays.
Protesters have warned of an indefinite strike unless their demands are met, including reopening the recognition portal and clearing pending RTE reimbursements.