327 preschools running sans registration in Rewari district

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, April 3

At least 327 play/preschools in the district are running without the mandatory registration. The district administration has taken serious view of the issue and directed the school owners to apply online for registration, failing which action will be initiated against them.

Sources say a majority of these play or preschools do not fulfil the minimum conditions and standards set by the authorities. They neither have adequate safety arrangements in place nor meet building parameters. Even the staff-children ratio is not being maintained in many schools.

As per the regulatory guidelines, no child below the age of three should be admitted to a play/preschool and there must be a teacher and a caregiver for every 20 children. The fee structure must be regulated by the government and should only be collected on a monthly or quarterly basis.

According to building parameters, a separate restroom for children, a pantry, CCTV cameras, separate child-friendly and disabled-friendly toilets for boys and girls, fire safety equipment, play area, arrangements to secure the school building with a boundary wall and adequate circulation area and ventilation are required.

Deputy Commissioner Yashendra Singh says that only two out of 327 play/preschools have applied online for registration while all others are functioning illegally. “Every such school is required to register itself with the Women and Child Development Department. Action will be taken against the defaulters,” he added.