Bhubaneswar: To ease the establishment of private elementary schools, Odisha govt has removed the mandatory requirement of an essentiality certificate (EC) for granting opening permission to private primary and upper primary schools in the state.An EC is an official document certifying that a proposed educational institution is needed in a particular locality and is structurally and academically feasible. It was among the mandatory clearances required by private trusts and societies to establish a new school.The change has been incorporated in revised guidelines issued by the govt for granting permission to open private elementary schools across Odisha. The rules will apply to all private elementary schools, irrespective of the medium of instruction.According to a notification issued by the school and mass education department, no private elementary school, whether primary or upper primary, will be allowed to operate without obtaining both opening permission and a Certificate of Recognition (CoR) under the Right to Education Act, 2009.Institutions seeking to establish schools must be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or the Indian Trusts Act. Applicants must ensure adequate land, safe and hygienic surroundings, sufficient classrooms, playgrounds, toilets, drinking water facilities, ramps and other basic facilities. Schools must also appoint qualified and trained teaching and non-teaching staff and comply with norms prescribed under the RTE Act.School authorities will be required to apply for a Certificate of Recognition under Section 18 of the RTE Act. Applications for opening schools will be routed through the district administration and recommended to the director of elementary education for approval. The district education officer (DEO) will then issue opening permission before the start of the academic session.The department has directed DEOs and block education officers (BEOs) to carry out regular inspections and monitoring to ensure compliance with statutory norms. Non-compliance may invite action under relevant legal provisions. The notification supersedes all previous instructions inconsistent with the revised guidelines.
