The block education officer has initiated action against three private primary schools found functioning in the Joshimath development block without Government clearance.
Three private primary schools were functioning in Pandukeshwar, Tapovan and Dhak in Joshimath without Government approval. The block education officer Vivek Panwar told The Pioneer that when he came to know about this, he initiated an inquiry into the alleged irregularity. The inquiry ascertained that the three private schools in question were being operated without clearance from the Education Department. The block education officer further informed that the Education department had issued notices to the managers of these three schools and orders have also been issued to close these private schools. The department is also keeping an eye on other private schools being operated in Joshimath block. Action will be taken against any school found to be functioning without the mandatory permission from the Government, he stressed.
Observers point out that the functioning of three private schools in Joshimath block without Government permission points towards the way in which rules and regulations are being blatantly ignored or violated by managers of various private schools operating in the mountainous areas of Uttarakhand. The managers of such schools are playing with the future of children studying in the unauthorised schools. There is need for stringent action against such private schools in order to secure at least the academic future of the children, emphasise the observers.