How Parents Can Avoid Misleading School Ads During Admissions. Pune ZP issues advisory. Check details
How Parents Can Avoid Misleading School Ads During Admissions. Pune ZP issues advisory. Check details
Navigating the school admission process can be quite overwhelming for parents, especially when faced with a barrage of advertisements and varying educational options. A Pune resident experienced this firsthand when she sought admission for her son in Std I last year. The challenge was to find a school that genuinely emphasized quality education rather than just flashy infrastructure, particularly in light of reports about schools raising fees arbitrarily.
After thorough visits to different schools, examining media reports, and consulting with fellow parents, she ultimately made her decision. However, not all parents have the luxury of time or resources to conduct such extensive research. In response to these challenges, Pune Zilla Parishad education officer Sanjay Naikade has issued a detailed advisory aimed at guiding parents and preventing them from being misled. Parents are advised to verify crucial details, such as the school’s affiliation certificate, its valid UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) number, and the authenticity of the facilities promised in advertisements.
“If parents find any discrepancies or missing facilities, they can lodge a complaint with the education department, and police action will be initiated against schools engaging in false advertising,” the officer warned.
Additionally, the Pune ZP intends to publish a list of recognized schools in the district from December 16 to 18 on their official website, allowing parents to confirm the authenticity of the schools they are considering. Naikade highlighted the need for vigilance, encouraging parents to verify critical safety measures like the presence of working CCTV cameras, the availability of fitness certificates for school vehicles, and character certificates for drivers. He pointed out that it is equally the responsibility of parents to ensure these basic safety standards are met, just as it is for the schools.
There are currently 7,221 schools in the Pune district affiliated with various boards and offering education in different mediums. “We strongly caution schools against misleading parents with false advertisements. Strict action, including the filing of criminal cases, will be taken against any institution found guilty of such practices. All officers have been directed to ensure that no unauthorized school operates within their jurisdiction,” he stated.
Area officers will carry out detailed surveys to find and deal with any unauthorized institutions, he added.
