KV ranking will be harmful: Experts

Experts are unhappy with the move by the HRD ministry to rank Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs). Educationists asked how it will improve schools and why parents will send their wards to the D grade schools.

The ministry will rank over 1,000 Kendriya Vidyalayas in the country. The step was taken by the government to improve the institutes by increasing competition among them. This would be the first official ranking of KVs in the country.

KVs will be assessed under seven parameters, including academic performance which carries the highest 500 points, followed by school infrastructure (150 points) and school administration (120 points). Schools will be graded under four categories with 80 per cent and above under the A category, 60-79.9 per cent in the B category, 40-59.9 per cent in the C category and below 40 per cent in the D grade category.

Nagati Narayana, an education activist, stated that categorisation of KVs will be harmful. He added, “KVs are scattered around the country and have geographical, socioeconomic and cultural differences. The D category schools will automatically suffer.”

He added, “If good KVs are not available, parents will send their students to private schools. Therefore, the proposed ranking system leads to privatisation of school education.”

Ashwin Kumar, a parent whose children study in Kanchanbagh KV, said, “If the ministry is planning to rank schools, they should also take action against the principal and teachers who are not performing and giving their best to students.”