The Haryana School Education department is planning to shut down Nursery, LKG and UKG classes in all private schools across the state. Stating that it has “ill-effects on mental ability of children”, the decision has been announced in the absence of adequate clarity in the School Education Rules of Haryana on admissions to pre-primary classes in private schools.

 With about 8500 private schools across Haryana, most of the private schools have already begun the admission procedure to pre-primary classes. The State Education Minister, Kanwar Pal told The Indian Express, “The School Education department has taken the decision that since it affects child’s mental abilities and growth patterns when the child is admitted in these classes at an early age, thus the department has decided not to allow admissions in these classes in private institutions. We shall be implementing it from the next session if the admissions are not being held as per rules and regulations.”

Regarding the practicality of such a decision, Pal said, “We shall see, how feasible it is. The practicality of the decision shall also be examined, before it is implemented”.

However, senior officers of the education department said no such decision has been made about the closing down of Nursery classes in private schools. Calling it a ‘confusion’, Vandana Disodia, Additional Director (Elementary Education, Haryana) revealed, “On June 10, there was a complaint lodged by Brijpal Singh Parmar, who runs an NGO in Bhiwani alleging that the recognised private schools cannot admit children in pre-primary classes, as it was against the rules and regulations. The same complaint was moved to Woman and Child Department, as well. From there, a reference came to the School Education Department to look into the issue. The Directorate of Elementary Education further marked the complaint’s reference to all the district elementary education officers with a copy back to Woman and Child Department, asking them to take action as per rules and regulations and also intimate the Directorate on the action taken. Now, this reference is being circulated on social media. But, no such decision to shut down Nursery classes, has been taken, as yet.”

Source: The Indian Express