(X) APPENDIX J
MEMORANDUM ON ITEM 13 : TO
 CONSIDER THE PRESENT CONDITION
 AND MANAGEMENT OF PRIVATE AIDED
 SCHOOLS
 

In recent years there has been considerable deterioration in the financial position of the aided institutions. The two sources on which these institutions used to depend primarily in the past, namely, donations and public subscriptions, have been dwindling very fast. In the circumstances, several institutions have resorted to the practice of levying, against rules, compulsory fees and donations from pupils or parents. Many management are failing to pay their teachers regularly or according to the mandatory scales of pay. The demand for more liberal grants and liberalisation of the grant-in-aid rules has been almost universal. In a number of places the managements. have been unable to continue with the result that the institutions had to be taken over by the Government. This state of affairs calls for careful examination and remedial action.

In order to size up the magnitude of the problem the Ministry prepared a questionnaire and circulated it to the States. From the replies received it appears that there are many institutions in the country which are levying compulsory fees and donations. Though in the very nature of things the unauthorised levies are not amenable to precise calculation or proof in all cases, from the replies received, it is however clear that the practice is widespread.

The replies from the States also show that the conditions vary from State to State in regard to the payment of salaries to the teachers of the privately managed institutions. However, the problem of their being paid less than their mandatory scales or being paid irregularly, seems to be of frequent occurence. It has been represented at times that the managing committees of some privately managed schools do not give their teachers full salaries for which they sign on the acquittance roll register. On receiving such complaints the Government of Punjab issued instructions to the effect that both the payer and the payee should give a solemn declaration each month about the former having paid full salary and the latter having received full salary for the month as shown in the acquittance roll register, but there may still be cases where false declarations are furnished by both the parties. The teachers bemoan about this malpractice only when their services are terminated by the managing bodies and then it is difficult to take any action.

In some of the States the grant-in-aid rules are functioning satisfactorily A large number of States, however, are considering the amendment of their rules. While it is not necessary that the grant-in-aid rules in all the States should be uniform-conditions of the managements vary from State to State-it would be desirable for each State Government to study the grant-in-aid rules in other States of the country before finalising its rules.

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Different State Governments have, between themselves, either taken over or are contemplating to take over the management of nearly 200 secondary institutions.In one State the management of 59 secondary classes has also been taken over by the Government. These are in addtion to the institutions mentioned above.

The Board will kindly consider the various issues involved in the management of the private institutions and advise the Ministry and the States as to what steps should be taken to ensure that private managements are enabled to continue to play their due part in the expansion and improvement of educational facilities at all levels.