- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Tue, 07 Oct 2025 01:32 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
The Jharkhand government has announced stricter measures against schools operating without recognition, following a directive from the Jharkhand High Court. Under the amended Jharkhand Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, it is now mandatory for all schools to obtain official recognition.
Currently, around 45,000 private unrecognised schools operate across urban and rural Jharkhand, serving children from low-income families. According to a letter by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, 5,879 schools in Jharkhand have a U-DISE code, with a total student population of 837,897 and 46,421 teachers.
Arvind Kumar, President of the Jharkhand Private School and Welfare Association, said schools have been asked to submit online applications for recognition as soon as possible. However, amendments made in 2019 introduced stringent rules, creating challenges for small schools.
While the original Act required recognition based on the total area of the school and constructed building, the 2019 rules demand 1 acre of land in rural areas and 75 decimals in urban areas for middle schools, and 60 decimals in rural areas and 40 decimals in urban areas for primary schools, with the land registered or leased in the school’s name for at least 30 years.
Many schools run by tribal communities face difficulties due to the CNT and SPT Acts, which limit land leases to a maximum of 5 years.
The association has made several demands:
-Recognition should be granted based on school structure, room size, and student strength, removing the land requirement.
-A 30-year lease should be facilitated through the Deputy Commissioner for land under the CNT and SPT Acts.
-Room sizes should be determined by student-teacher ratios.
-Schools without a U-DISE code should be issued one.
Arvind Kumar highlighted the broader impact, stating, “The Education Department must either relax the rules and grant recognition or take responsibility for closures, including the enrolment of children. Considering the families of 46,000 teachers, nearly 2,00,000 livelihoods, and over 10 lakh associated families are at stake.”
Mozahidul Islam, General Secretary of the Jharkhand Private School and Welfare Association, added that schools have been submitting detailed U-DISE data annually since 2015, and the act has been implemented by the central government since 2009 and the state government since 2011.
The move to enforce recognition aims to ensure quality education, but private school associations are urging the government to adopt flexible measures to prevent disruption for students and teachers.