Heat on schools hiding info on performance

Over 1,000 schools to face action for not completing self-gradation exercise despite state education board giving them two months for it

Heat on schools hiding info on performance

Over 1,000 schools to face action for not completing self-gradation exercise despite state education board giving them two months for it

The education board's efforts to bring in transparency in schools across the state and grade them on the basis of their performance and facilities has received lukewarm response from many private schools. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) had started the project for schools to rate themselves as well as teachers and this information would later be available to parents through a website.
Of the 18,948 registered schools in the state, about 1,000 have not completed the gradation process despite it being a self-assessment programme.

Shahaji Dhekne, secretary of MSBSHSE, said that some schools have been acting tough despite repeated reminders.

"Most of these are private unaided schools and the list includes some well known schools as well. We are surprised as the process is quite simple; all they have to do is fill out an online form. We have listed all facilities we expect schools to have, qualifications of teachers and extra-curricular activities, among others. They have to tick yes or no and based on their answers, they can decide under what grade the school falls. This exercise will also help schools in comparing themselves with others and know their shortcomings," said Dhekne.

The deadline for this exercise was in the first week of February and MSBSHSE had given an extension of 15 days to school, which is also over.

"We have now decided to take action against the schools who didn't comply with the deadline and have sent them notices. If they do not respond, we will send a team for physical inspection of premises and checking records," said Dhekne.

He added that once the self-gradation process is over, the results would be available online for people to see. Later the board also plans to reinforce the grades by inspecting the school's claims so that information put up on website is authentic.

"The schools have been honest in self appraisals and a large percentage of schools have put themselves in the B or C category. In a few cases, they have even put themselves in the D category. We now plan to help these schools upgrade themselves to a higher category by giving training to teachers, helping to improve school's activities, among others," he added.