Pune: The Independent English Schools Association (IESA) recently held its annual meeting in Pune, where Jagruti Dharmadhikari was unanimously elected as the State President, and Dr. Rajendra Singh was appointed as the Secretary for the next three years.
During the executive committee meeting, various educational issues were discussed, including the challenges faced by self-financed institutions and the critical demands to be presented to the government. The association emphasized the need for immediate reforms to ensure a quality educational future in Maharashtra.
One of the primary demands raised was the implementation of a single-window system for all permissions and government documentation related to school operations and affiliations.
This system aims to eliminate the current delays and administrative hurdles caused by the complex and opaque processes, enhancing transparency and allowing for real-time tracking of application statuses.
The association also stressed the importance of transparency in the submission process of school-related documents. They proposed a system where educational institutions could track the exact status of their documents, including which office and table they are on, the reasons for any delays, and the expected time for completion.
In addition, IESA called for the introduction of the 'School Protection Act' to safeguard educational institutions and their trustees from undue penalties in cases of accidents on school premises.
The association highlighted the need to prevent incidents such as mob actions against school principals, vandalism of school property, and other disruptive behaviors that can negatively impact students.
The association argued that trustees and principals should not be made scapegoats for unfortunate incidents within their jurisdiction.
Responsibilities should be clearly defined by law, and educational leaders should be protected from unjust punishment, encouraging them to take proactive steps in managing such situations.
IESA also urged the government to permit students from self-financed schools to participate in important scholarship examinations like NMMS, advocating for equal educational opportunities for all students.
Additionally, the association demanded that if delays occur in the approval of new schools due to governmental inefficiency, the validity of the submitted receipts should be extended, and schools should be compensated for any financial burdens caused by such delays.