Draft rules for education Act ready

While a new private school that comes into existence after the notification of these rules would have to follow the norms laid down in the rules with immediate effect,private schools already running in the state would be given a period of three years to comply with norms laid down for recognition.

A committee of the state government would inspect each school before it is given recognition. Regular inspections would be carried out by the committee in the recognised schools and in case a school is found to be lacking in any respect the education department would initiate the process of de-recognition.

The rules provide for the setting up of a primary school within one kilometre walking distance of habitation. For students of classes VI-VIII,the school would be established within a walking distance of 3 km of habitation. The rules also provide for the upgradation of existing schools with classes I-V to include classes VI–VIII and vice versa.

Every school would have to admit 25 per cent of its total student strength from among the economically weaker sections. While 75 per cent of the rest of the students can be admitted from anywhere through a lottery system the students from the weaker sections would be admitted only from the area defined as neighbourhood.

“Neighbourhood for the purpose of admitting students of weaker sections in a city school would be the municipal limit of the city and for rural areas,the area of the entire village,” said Krishan Kumar,Director General School Education,Punjab.