Kerala to regulate CBSE-affiliated schools

New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) Kerala Education Minister M A Baby today said the government would take steps, in stages, to regulate the private schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Talking to newsmen here, he said many of the CBSE schools were collecting huge fees from the children despite the constitutional guarantee for free education to all up to age 14. "It is a blatant violation of Constitution." Mr Baby said the government was of the strong view that there must be strong regulation of the functioning of the CBSE-affiiated schools.

He said the issue would be raised at the meeting on education convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on October ten.

On the deemed university issue, the minister said the University Grants Commission should confer such a status to any institution only after seeking the views of the concerned state government.

Referring to the move to allow foreign unversities to open their campuses in India, Mr Baby said the Left parties were against such a move. "We are, however, not against academic cooperation with foreign universities and institutes." Accusing the previous Congress-led government of indiscriminately sanctioning schools and colleges, Mr baby said the present government would give permission for new educational institutions only after a detailed scientific study.

UNI SH SHB VV1914