Regulatory guidelines for private play schools welcomed by Amritsar residents

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 23

Residents have welcomed the notification of regulatory guidelines for private play schools in the state. They said the new norms would check growth of play schools for children between three and six years.

Over the years, growth of crèches in the city has baffled locals. The Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, issued the notification in this regard on July 30.

It approved the implementation of guidelines framed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to regulate private play schools in the state, for effective and successful implementation of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), including pre-school education in concurrence with the ECCE policy as approved by the Early Childhood Care and Education Council. Varun Khanna, a city-based activist, had campaigned for the need of relevant provisions to regulate quality of instructions and others aspects in play schools.

After his pleas to the state government remained unheard, he filed an appeal with the NCPCR, which forwarded his appeal to the Chief Secretary. Khanna said he was happy that finally the government has notified the NCPCR guidelines. 

NCPCR’s norms implemented

• No play and pre-school will be able to operate or teach without recognition.
• These schools will not charge capitation fee and any institute teaching children below the age of three will be penalised
• Violation of guidelines will invite stern action, besides duly qualified staff needs to be appointed and proper verification of staff is a must.