Chennai, Sept 16:
Private-school associations have urged the Tamil Nadu government to expedite the clearance of pending applications for renewal of recognition, saying applications from around 5,000 schools across the State are awaiting approval.
The Federation of Private Schools Association (FePSA) said the schools had obtained building permissions from their respective local bodies before May 2026, but their renewal applications are pending due to the absence of approval from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP).
FePSA president M Arumugam said the Directorate of Private Schools had issued a circular in March stating that renewal could be granted until May 2026 to schools that had obtained building permission from local bodies, even if they did not have DTCP approval.
According to the association, schools were assured that the pending renewal orders would be expedited after the entire process was shifted online. However, the association said there had been no progress on several applications.
The delay is also affecting school transport arrangements. FePSA said schools without renewal orders were facing difficulties in obtaining permits and fitness certificates for their buses. It cautioned that any untoward incident involving such schools could create serious complications.
The association further said that upgradation orders for at least 100 schools were still pending despite recommendations from the respective district educational officers (private schools).
“The government must immediately clear the pending applications as the process is now entirely online and fast-track applications for which no DTCP approvals are required,” Arumugam said.
The private-school sector has sought early action to ensure that schools do not face administrative and operational difficulties because of delays in the renewal process.