Overview
- The School Education Minister announced a House committee to examine and recommend changes to rules for initial recognition and renewal of private aided and unaided schools.
- The department pledged that no school will be disadvantaged under current regulations while the committee completes its review.
- Lawmakers from multiple parties pressed for the review, and the Legislative Council’s Deputy Chairman said member details will be notified separately.
- Current requirements stem from a 2018 Supreme Court direction and include fire and building safety clearances from multiple agencies, which schools say are hard to secure along with decades-old records.
- The minister warned of disciplinary action over reported bribery in the renewal process and noted that a prior attempt to shift renewals online was unsuccessful.