School recognition to be shifted to online platform

CHENNAI: In a bid to reduce the amount of paperwork, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to shift the application, renewal and approval of school recognition to an online platform. A new software/ portal would be developed for this.

Till now the process of recognising schools was being done manually, which consumes more time.

A senior official from the School Education Department said a comprehensive database of all existing schools will be created first and that would be linked to the portal. All schools in the State will have access to the portal.

“Schools seeking recognition can upload requisite data, including documents and certificates, to the portal. For existing schools, a login ID will be provided and that could be used to renew recognition,” he said. All payments will also be shifted online, he added.

Once the school uploads all details, the authorities concerned will visit the institution for verification and approval. The portal will also have important links and government orders so that school managements can clarify any details.

“The website will provide a facility to acquire the list of schools which haven’t renewed their recognition so that parents can take an informed decision before admitting their wards. The portal will also list debarred schools,” the official said.

Pointing out that there were more than 12,000 private schools functioning across the State, the official said once the online recognition portal was launched, schools should update infrastructure development activities on campuses such as the construction of new classrooms, toilets and other student facilities.

Following a court order, the School Education Department had recently cancelled permanent recognition of schools. Accordingly, recognition will be given for a maximum of three years.