BSEB suspends affiliation of 56 schools

Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) today decided to suspend the affiliation of 56 schools across the state for not complying with the prescribed norms and criteria.
The Board also decided to cancel the affiliation of nine schools/colleges which were in-principle given affiliation but were not issued affiliation letters by it, Board Chairman Anand Kishore said in a release here.
On inquiry, it was found that these schools did not live up to the standards and prescribed norms set by the Board for running the institutions.
Besides, it also decided to lodge an FIR against an Intermediate College at Madhepura for its decision to start admissions even before getting an affiliation letter to run the institute.

These 56 schools have also been served separate show cause notices asking them to explain why their recognition should not be cancelled, Kishore said, adding, they will have to furnish their reply within 15 days.
The Board is conducting an inquiry into schools which were granted affiliation in the past two years, he said.

Sources said schools which are under scanner are those which were granted affiliation in the last two years during the tenure of former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, the alleged mastermind of the toppers scam in the state intermediate examination.
These institutions are among the 212 schools in 31 districts which are being probed by committees constituted by district magistrates to check whether they complied with the 18 criteria fixed by the Board, the Chairman said, adding, the committees made physical and on the spot inspections.

Out of 212 institutions, the Board has so far received inspection reports of about 177 schools. Of these, assessment of 165 institutions has been completed.
Kishore, however, made it clear that students studying
in the schools which have been suspended would be admitted to nearby schools in the district due to special circumstances.
Stern action would be taken against those officials and employees whose involvement would be found in providing help to these schools to get affiliation, he said.
Kishore said buildings of the schools were not constructed as per the criteria laid down and shortcomings were found with regard to appointments of teaching and non teaching employees.

Most of the schools did not have a library, laboratory, playground, sports equipment, fire safety norms, administrative rooms etc, he said.
Almost four months have passed since the intermediate toppers scam in the state came to light in the state.
Twenty people, including the main accused Bachcha Rai, principal of the Bishun Rai College of Vaishali from where state topper Ruby Rai and other students who appeared for the exam, were arrested.
Former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife ex-MLA Usha Sinha were also arrested in the case. A Special Investigation Team headed by Patna SSP is probing the matter.