Edu dept asks directorates to submit safety certificates

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 6

The school education department has taken note of the non-submission of requisite certificates related to lab chemical safety, building safety, fire and emergency along with a no objection certificate (NoC) from the traffic department by the Directorates of School Education of Kashmir and Jammu while recommending cases of recognition and extension of private institutes.

The department grants recognition and extension to private educational institutes of J&K on the basis of affiliation by the J&K Board of School Education viz-a-viz recommendations of the Director, School Education, Kashmir/Jammu. There are more than 5,000 private educational institutions in the state. The strength of private schools in Jammu division is around 2,726.

Sources said it was observed that the head of departments, while recommending the cases of private schools, were not submitting the requisite certificates, which caused a delay in the disposal of such cases. They said even an NOC from the traffic department was not being submitted while recommending the cases.

The sources said the main reason behind the non-submission of requisite certificates by the directorate was incomplete information provided by the management of private schools.

In 2018, 324 private schools were identified by the school directorate in this connection. Of these, 70 schools were in Jammu district followed by Kathua (58), Udhampur (32), Rajouri (31), Poonch (30), Doda (27), Samba (25), Reasi (22) Kishtwar (16) and Ramban (13).

“The department is serious about the issue. In fact, in January 2018, 284 private schools operating within Jammu municipal limits were closed for not adhering to three essential criteria: Fire safety, building safety and lab chemical safety,” an education department official said.

“The department has made it clear to both the directorates to ensure that all requisite certificates are submitted while recommending the cases of private schools for grant of recognition and extension,” the official added.