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Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
DEO orders 2 illegal schools to be shut down for violating RTE norms
Ludhiana: In a major crackdown on unauthorised educational institutions , district education officer (elementary), Ravinder Kaur, ordered the immediate closure of two private schools operating without recognition under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The schools, Prerna Academy in Sherpur Kalan and Sarthak Academy on Tibba Road, were found to be running illegally. During inspections by the DEO (elementary) office team, it was found that Prerna Academy had 65 students enrolled from Classes I to V, while Sarthak Academy was catering to 96 students from Classes I to VII. Neither school had approval from the education department and both lacked the basic infrastructure and qualified staff required under RTE norms. Upon inspection, school representatives claimed they were merely operating tuition centres. However, further investigation revealed that academic activities were being conducted on the premises with no proper infrastructure. DEO (elementary) Ravinder Kaur, who is personally leading the enforcement drive across the district, said the students in these schools would be admitted in nearby govt schools according to their classes. This action is part of a broader campaign initiated by the Ludhiana education department to ensure that all schools comply with RTE guidelines. Following the shutdown of Prerna and Sarthak Academies, a surprise inspection was also carried in the Giaspura area, where several other unauthorised institutions were found operating in substandard conditions. Among the schools inspected were Maa Sharda School, Government Flats, Maa Sharda School, Giaspura, Bright Future School, and Gopal Vatika School, in Viaspura area. None of these schools had applied for or received recognition under the RTE Act. The inspection team found overcrowded classrooms, absence of desks, unhygienic toilets, unsafe drinking water, and untrained teachers. Moreover, students above the age of 15 were found enrolled in primary classes, which is another violation of the RTE Act. In response, the education department launched a targeted admission drive under the 2025-26 enrollment campaign. Over 100 children from the affected areas were immediately admitted to nearby govt schools, about 100 at Government Primary School Lohara and 19 at Government Primary School Giaspura. DEO Ravinder Kaur was joined by Vishal Mittal, MIS coordinator, along withother staff during the inspection and enrollment drive. The education department has warned that further action will be taken against any unrecognised institution operating in violation of the RTE Act.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 2 private schools to shut down for violating RTE Act, orders DEO
The district education officer (DEO) (elementary education), Ravinder Kaur, have ordered two private schools, Sarthak Academy and Prerna Academy, to shut down immediately for violating key education laws. Both schools were found operating without valid registration under the Right to Education (RTE) Act and did not possess a Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) code. The action follows an inspection drive launched by DEO Kaur and her team last month. The campaign focused on identifying private schools running without proper approvals. A six-member inspection committee, headed by DEO Kaur and block primary officers (BPOs), was tasked with visiting schools across the district. During one such visit, the team inspected Sarthak Academy, which had been operating for nearly four years and had enrolled 96 students from nursery to Class 7. The inspection revealed that all the students were attending regular classes in a single hall, which violates the norms laid out in the RTE Act, 2009, and Punjab State RTE Rules, 2011. In response to a notice issued by the committee, the school claimed that it was operating as a tuition centre and not as a formal school. However, the presence of regular classes for multiple classes led the officials to conclude otherwise. 'Running such an institution without proper recognition is a violation of Section 18(1) of the RTE Act,' said DEO Kaur. Similarly, Prerna Academy claimed in a letter dated May 2 that it too is functioning as a tuition centre. But the inspection team found 65 students from Class 1 to 5 attending formal classes on campus, which contradicted the school's statement. As a result, both institutions have been declared illegal and ordered to close with immediate effect. The DEO has also directed the management of both schools to ensure that all enrolled students are shifted to nearby government schools to avoid any disruption in their education.
