Education officials to crack down on talent tests

Even with the government passing an order banning such tests, some private schools have allegedly continued to conduct them

Are you against "talent hunt" by private schools for admission? If yes, you can walk into the commissioner of school education's office and lodge a complaint. With a few children's rights' organisations complaining to the commissioner and director of school education, officials are ready to crack the whip on corporate schools conducting such tests.

J Satyanarayana, commissioner and director of school education told Express they would take strict action against private and corporate schools organising talent tests for children. "We will not hesitate to cancel the school's recognition if they are found guilty. We have also asked the district educational officer (DEO) to implement the orders,'' he said.

The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) had issued a directive to the secondary school education department to ban all screening tests for admissions. D Sambasiva Rao, principal secretary, secondary education also instructed the commissioner to ban private schools from holding screening tests.

Two years ago, the National Child Rights Commission (NCRC) and the High Court banned screening tests under the name talent hunts, being conducted by corporate schools to attract students. Some schools, however, have allegedly continued to conduct screening tests under the garb of merit tests.

Recently, the CSE received a complaint that Keshava Reddy Educational Institutes had advertised about a scholarship test on March 6, announcing prizes like DVD players, cameras and motor bikes for successful children. Achyut Rao, president, AP Balasangham, who lodged the complaint said they were against such money-making initiatives.

Rao said schools like Narayana Group of Schools, Sri Chaitanya Techno Schools, Ravindra Bharathi Group of Schools, Gowthami and Krishnaveni institutions were organising talent tests by charging `50 from each child. "The schools collect crores of rupees from parents in the name of talent tests. With the government passing a new order banning all talent tests, schools should cancel such tests,'' he added.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com