New Delhi: The Education Department has instructed private schools in Delhi to issue school leaving certificates (SLC) to students who want to migrate to government schools. The direction came after some parents complained about private schools withholding SLCs to students with outstanding fees.
The financial strain caused due to coronavirus has forced parents change their children’s schools this year.
“The economic crisis caused by Covid-19 and related problems have rendered many parents unable to pay the outstanding fee in respect of their wards. It has been observed that many private schools are denying to issue Transfer Certificate (TC)/ School Leaving Certificate (SLC) to students whose fee is outstanding,” read an education department circular.
Following this, the department directed that provisional admission in government schools be granted to all students who have been allotted a school through the admission process, by accepting other documents such as mark sheets from the previous school and an application from the parent stating that the SLC has been denied.
Heads of government schools have also been asked to submit to district officials the names of private schools that are refusing to issue SLCs. Noting that the Delhi High Court had directed in a 2019 order that “…the respondent cannot withhold the School Leaving Certificate… on the ground that school fees are yet to be paid by them”, officials have been instructed to ensure that these schools issue SLCs to their bonafide students.
Meanwhile, another phase of admissions for classes VI to IX and XI in government schools began on Saturday and shall continue till October 20.