A Report on Recognised Unaided Schools in Kerala

Analyzing trends in unaided, recognized schools in Kerala

The trend of private unaided schools gained momentum in Kerala during the 1980s. They are largely beyond the control of the government, and are not subject to any kind of public accountability. The government appointed a two-member committee to analyze the situation in the state. The committee conducted school visits and a survey in selected recognized, unaided schools. The study found that recognized unaided schools did not:

• Follow government norms in student-teacher proportion, qualifications of the teachers and disclosure of number of teachers;
• Provide teachers with job security, welfare fund benefits, maternity benefits or appointment letters;
• Have qualified and regular headmasters in a large number of cases;
• Adhere to government order on fees to be charged to students.

Major recommendations of the committee pertain to areas of teacher salaries and benefits, transparency in number of teachers, fees, teacher evaluation and training and teacher promotion for all kinds of schools in the state, be they government, private aided or private unaided schools.