Noida: More than 1,000 students of Uttarakhand Public School in Sector 56 remain uncertain where they will go to school in the upcoming academic year after the Central Board of Secondary Education withdrew affiliation up to the senior secondary and ordered the management to shut operations from March 31. The board withdrew the school’s affiliation up to the senior secondary level on Feb 18, citing violations of service conditions, workplace safety norms and irregularities in salary disbursement, particularly affecting women staff. While students currently studying in Classes 10 and 12 were allowed to complete the 2025–26 academic session on the same campus, those in Classes 9 and 11 must shift to other CBSE-affiliated schools before the new academic year begins.Parents said that more than three weeks after the order, there was still no clarity from the school or the education department on where students would be accommodated. With admissions in most schools completed months earlier, and the new academic session beginning on April 1, several nearby schools have reportedly refused transfers due to a lack of seats. “Admission sessions start by Nov-Dec in most CBSE schools. By March, seats are almost full. Several parents are now left in a dilemma as to what will happen to their children’s future,” said Lal Singh, whose son studies in Class 9 at the school. “My son was in this school for 11 years. Now he cannot be promoted to Class 10 here, and the 2 schools I approached refused admission, citing lack of seats.” Singh said that there are around 90-100 students currently enrolled in Class 9 who are in limbo.Parents also said that transfers at this stage are particularly difficult because board registrations are completed in advance. In most CBSE-affiliated schools, students are registered for the Class 10 board examination in Class 9 itself and for the Class 12 board examinations in Class 11.“My daughter is in the science stream. When we enquired at another school, there was only a seat available in the commerce stream, so she could not take admission there,” said another parent.Parents also criticised the lack of planning for accommodating students affected by the closure. “Whatever the issue was, closing down a school without proper planning for the future of the students is uncalled for. The board and the education department must take responsibility and act quickly,” said Pushkar Raj, a parent.Officials said the district education department received the CBSE order only last week and would review the matter soon. “Classes 1-8 come under the basic education department. We will hold a meeting soon to make alternative arrangements for the students,” DIOS Rajesh Kumar Singh said.Meanwhile, school principal Mohini Negi said the management appealed to the board seeking reconsideration. “The school administration requested the board to allow it to continue operations till Class 12. The response is still awaited,” she said.The CBSE’s order followed a detailed inquiry into multiple complaints by teachers, most of them women, who alleged mental harassment, forced salary deductions, and an unhealthy work environment under the school management. A joint fact-finding committee, led by the district inspector of schools and the city magistrate, found the allegations to be substantiated. The inquiry also revealed that Rs 68 lakh was returned to teachers after objections were raised over alleged salary deductions.
