Patna, Aug. 24: Implementation of the landmark legislation to provide free and compulsory education under Right to Education (RTE) Act will be a Herculean task for the administration to put into practice. For, private institutions are not keen to follow all its norms.

The state human resource development (HRD) department has sought details from all private schools on various provisions of the act, though. The HRD, as a reminder to its earlier letter written on May this year, has asked all the private schools to get recognition from the state government by September 30, failing which strict action would be initiated against the school authorities. This could range from imposing fine on schools to closure.

The authorities of private schools, mainly the missionary institutions in the state capital, claimed that the HRD’s new directive was “despotic”. The Private Schools and Children Welfare Association condemned the HRD department’s decision of re-registration of the affiliated private schools.

Mervyan Cowell, the secretary of the association, said: “The decision of the state government is politically motivated as it wants to exert pressure on the schools on implementation of the 25 per cent seats reserved for children from weaker sections of society. The matter is pending before Supreme Court and Patna High Court.”

Cowell said if the state government provides land measuring 2 acres with building and if the school becomes financially strong to pay salaries of its employees according to the Sixth Pay Commission then the private schools will have no problem in getting re-registered and also abiding by the RTE Act norms.

According to the HRD directive, all private schools will have to get re-registered and the school buildings, playgrounds and other blocks should be used entirely for academic purpose. The directive further stated that the education department officials would inspect the schools and they should not be run with an aim to provide profit to an individual, groups, trusts and organisations.

The HRD department has made these new provisions to successfully implement the RTE Act. The HRD would form a committee comprising district education officer, an additional district magistrate-rank official nominated by district magistrate and a district programme officer. A member from the committee will visit the private schools on an interval of three months to gather report of the schools once they file the re-registration forms.

The HRD letter has also sought details on fees from the private schools. Sources said if the state government tries to be too strict on these aspects, many schools in Patna would close down.

Syed Shamael Ahmad, the chairman of Private Schools and Children Welfare Association, said: “What the state government wants the private schools to adhere to is next to impossible. The directive will pave the way for closure of 99 per cent of the private schools in the state capital leaving lakhs unemployed.”

Private schools in Bihar range from ultra-modern schools that charge exorbitant fees to basic schools charging nominal fees and cater to all sections of the society.

The association’s vice-chairman, ADJ Rozariao, said: “These private schools are rated by the people of the area in which it is located. Private schools have played a key role in the education sector of Bihar and also in providing employment to lakhs.”