Telangana: Conflicting directives leave DEOs in a tizzy

Hyderabad: Perplexed with the contradictory directions the District Education Officers (DEOs) in the State are in a tizzy. Going into the details, the Commisionerate of School Education (CSE) issued proceedings on July 1, reiterating, that neither the State nor the Centre has decided on the reopening of the schools for the academic year 2020-21.

Referring to a writ petition by the Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA), pending before the State High Court, it said, that the State government has so far not issued any guidelines on private unaided schools conducting online classes. Against this backdrop, the proceedings said, "Some of the District Education Officers in the State are issuing instructions on the subject through media etc.,"

It asked the DEOs not to issue instructions on their own, regarding re-opening of schools and other issues, without instructions from the CSE. Warning that "any deviation from above will be viewed very adversely and initiate disciplinary action."

Early on, the School Education department (COVID-19 pandemic-Regulation of school fees for the academic year, 2020-21) vide G.O.Rt.No.46 on April 21 directed "not to increase any kind of fees during the academic year, 2020-21 and shall charge only tuition fee on monthly basis till further orders."

The GO was issued by the State government under Rule 21 of Telangana Educational Institutions (Establishment, Recognition, Administration & Control of Schools under Private Managements) Rules, 1993.

It made clear that the directives apply to all Private unaided recognised schools in the State, "Which are affiliated to State Board, CBSE, ICSE & other International Boards." It warned non-compliance of the said instructions would result in cancellation of school recognition, revoking the No Objection Certificate already granted for affiliation to other boards and initiation of appropriate action against the school management under relevant Acts/Rules." Later on, parents are asked to reach out to DEOs and lodge complaints in case the private recognised schools violating its order, assuring action against the erring schools.

Following these developments, sources in the State Education Department said, "DEOs in parts of the State have been taking action in response to the complaints from the parents alleging schools mounting pressure to pay the fees by launching online classes." The private recognised schools launched online classes assuming they can do so in the absence of any clear guidelines of barring such activity. Also, GO Rt.No. 46 of April 4 allowed the schools to collect month-wise.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the SED said that the DEOs action might have come in the absence of any clear guidelines on the online classes, the parents' complaints on which they were asked to act and the schools collecting the fee for the academic year 2020-21 by launching the classes, amounting to commencing the academic year.

"The confusion clears, whether lunching online classes and collecting the fee for the academic year 2020-21 amounts to reopening and commencing the academic year," said a DEO on the condition of anonymity. Instead, CSE proceedings has created more confusion to the effect that whether the DEOs should follow the GO or the proceedings?