July 13, 08:36

Supreme Court rejects demand by West Bengal madras teachers for salary payment under grant scheme

The Supreme Court in New Delhi rejected a petition filed by about 350 teachers and non-administrative staff of recognized madrasas in West Bengal who were seeking salary payments under the state grant scheme.

Changes in State Policy

Just days after taking office, the cabinet in West Bengal, led by Suvendu Adhikari, revoked support for religiously categorized groups. This effectively concluded the implementation of religion-based schemes that were in place under the TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee.

According to the order from the State Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasas dated July 8, the inspection of selected private madrasas, both recognized and unrecognized, is necessary as part of the process of reviewing their functioning and ensuring compliance with educational frameworks and government policies.

Objectives and Scope of Inspections

A senior government official stated that 'the inspections are conducted in the interest of student welfare, proper execution of educational programs, institutional planning, and verification of the activities of private institutions.'

Officials from the senior madrasa department, as well as other government agencies, have been assigned responsibilities for conducting inspections in each district. The covered districts include Koch Bihar, North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas.

Status of Private Madrasas

Private madrasas in Bengal operate without financial assistance from the state. They can be private, recognized institutions, or unrecognized Hariji madrasas. It is estimated that there are over 1000 Hariji madrasas across the state, managed and supported by individuals, communities, or private organizations, although there is no official statistics on them.

www.aajtak.inJuly 8, 09:32

Madras High Court rules that private schools must publish full fee structure on website and notice board

The Madras High Court has issued a landmark and strict ruling regarding fees in private schools and alleged 'hidden charges'. The court has determined that no private school can conceal its fee structure from parents any longer.

Requirements for Fee Transparency

According to the court's order, all private educational institutions must clearly display the full cost of education both on the school's official notice board and on its website.

Reaction of School Associations

Previously, the Director of Private Schools issued a circular on June 1st, mandating all private schools to disclose their fees and post them on the notice board and website. However, the 'All India Private Educational Institutions Association' filed a petition with the Madras High Court against this government decision, demanding an immediate stay on the circular.

High Court's Stance

In considering the case, the Madras High Court dealt a significant blow to the private school association by denying the request for a 'stay' on the government circular. The court rejected the petition, upholding the government order and obliging schools to upload complete tuition cost information to the notice board and website with full transparency.

Significance for Parents

This decision is highly significant for parents, as it is often observed that private schools charge substantial amounts under various headings (such as development fees or event fees) during admission or throughout the academic year, which parents are not informed about in advance. Following the court's ruling, parents will be able to get an accurate idea of the total cost of education at the school in advance, which will help limit the arbitrary actions of the institutions.

www.aajtak.inJuly 1, 12:12

In Bihar: Employees with 18-month D.El.Ed degree from NIOS face termination threat due to TRE-3 hiring dispute

Bad news for residents of Bihar who completed the 18-month D.El.Ed course at the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The state's Director of Education issued an important letter to all district education directors and district education officials announcing the necessity to terminate the service of teachers hired after completing this course.

Grounds for Departmental Action

According to available information, the Education Department took these steps in connection with compliance rules during the hiring process. In the TRE-3 recruitment announcement, clause 2 B (iv) referenced a regulation stating that admission based on the 18-month D.El.Ed course provided by NIOS is not recognized as valid, citing the Bihar Education Department letter No. 22 3 dated 07.12.2023.

Citing this provision, the Department instructed the initiation of the procedure to annul the employment of all such candidates and terminate their service. Following the issuance of this order, an atmosphere of confusion and anxiety arose among affected teachers across the state.

Impact on Employment

According to sources, teachers hired under TRE-3 are working in several districts. Now, following this new directive, their jobs may be under direct threat. Nevertheless, further legal and administrative procedures regarding this matter are being considered at the department level.

Previous Hiring Decisions

Previously, the Supreme Court ruled that the 18-month D.El.Ed diploma from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is not equivalent to a two-year diploma. This was followed by reports that individuals who completed the 18-month D.EL.Ed course from NIOS are unable to secure employment.