This may well ring the death knell for private schools across the country. The National Knowledge Commission (NKC), a body of high-profile experts and intellectuals who have the government’s and PM’s ear, has called for regulation of admission and fees in the thousands of private institutions, which form about 15% of the total schools in India. The NKC recommendations call for an urgent look at “the monitoring of private schools, in terms of ensuring a transparent admissions process, regulation of fee structure, as well as setting minimum standards for quality of teaching and infrastructure.” The recommendations for school education were submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and to the Planning Commission in the first week of February. The report states that “private schools should become a subject of regulation and inspection within a set framework, which is universally applicable”.

R Govinda, a senior professor at the National University of Education Planning and Administration supported this recommendation stating that it is essential to have “common standards” for all schools. “Just because the government does not give grants to some schools, does not mean they keep themselves detached from those institutions. After all, every child belongs to this country,” said another expert. Across the country, several private schools have set up their own admission procedures and fees, and are not regulated. Also, several unrecognised private schools have also mushroomed.

The NKC also recommends that a testing body at the national level focus on “fixed infrastructural requirement, enrolment and attendance, as well as, outcome indicators like learning levels in language skills and numeracy.” This body will track both public and private schools and will monitor the “skills attained” rather than ask questions that place emphasis on “rote learning,” the report suggests.