32 unrecognised schools seized

Visakhapatnam: Cracking a whip on the unrecognised educational institutions in the district, the DEO and five special teams closed down 32 unrecognsed schools in the district on Monday.

The crackdown came after HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao in a review meeting on Monday asked the DEO to close down unrecognsed schools by organsing a special drive, which would be implemented throughout the State beginning from Visakhapatnam.

The DEO personally visited Gajuwaka area on Monday morning and closed Nalanda Public School, Peda Gantyada, Legend English Medium School, BC Road, Sanskar English Medium School, Peda Gantyada and Jagruthi English Medium School, Peda Gantyada.

The five teams visited several parts in the city and closed down another 28 unrecognised schools.
The district has 142 unrecognised schools of which 55 are primary and 87 secondary schools.

The DEO told this correspondent that the drive would continue till all the unrecognised schools were closed in the district. Similarly, a special drive was launched for checking the fitness of the school buses. The district has 164 school buses and of them 732 were found to be unfit for carrying children.

The DEO appealed to the parents to enroll their children in recognised schools or those run by the government. He said under the new system introduced this year, students would not be allowed to write SSC examination privately.
The drive was launched after several parents complained to the Minister on high tuition fees, donations and lack of facilities in many schools.