Bengaluru: The Karnataka Private School-College Parent Organisations Coordinating Committee has urged the state govt to reject the interim report of the special house committee chaired by MLC Puttanna, alleging that its recommendations to relax regulatory requirements for schools could compromise child safety and the quality of education.In a representation dated Friday, the committee objected to recommendations concerning school accreditation, fire safety, building stability and other regulatory requirements. It said easing these standards in the name of administrative simplification would put children and parents at risk for the benefit of school managements.The committee stressed that the need to simplify school administration should not take precedence over children’s right to safe and quality education. It said measures such as eliminating duplicate documentation, a single-window system, timely disposal of applications, protecting teachers’ salaries and timely Right to Education (RTE) reimbursements could be implemented separately.14 objections, from fire safety to ‘Safe Exit’A detailed representation lists 14 objections. It says the report views school education through “ease of doing business” and does not adequately show consultation with parents, child rights bodies and safety experts. It objects to exempting older schools from RTE norms and to blanket relaxation of fire-safety requirements.It also objects to 10-year structural-stability certificates for buildings over 25 years old and the acceptance of self-declarations where approved plans are missing. The representation also questions the proposed ‘Safe Exit’ plan, the one-time settlement for past recognition lapses and the closure of departmental inquiries against officials.The committee also called for legal action against school managements violating important orders and regulations of the education department. It said granting exemptions to rule-violating institutions on the basis of children’s future runs counter to a Supreme Court verdict.
