Shiksha Samvad 2025 by Unaided Schools Protection Council Kerala

Minutes of Meeting

Event: Shiksha Samvad 2025

Organized by: Unaided Schools’ Protection Council (USPC)

Venue: Kochi, Kerala

Date: [Insert Date]

1. Attendance

- Tamil Nadu

- Haryana

- Punjab

- Chandigarh

- Jammu & Kashmir

- Maharashtra

2. Proceedings

a. Opening

• The meeting commenced with a silent prayer.
• The conference was inaugurated by Rev. Father James Mullassery, President of USPC, who also delivered the welcome speech.
• Dignitaries from each state were warmly welcomed with gifts.

b. First Panel Discussion

• Topic: Key issues faced by schools due to CBSE imposition of rules on different regulations
• Panel Members:
  - Mr. A.T.B. Bose – Tamil Nadu
  - Dr. Saini – Punjab
  - R.D. Singh Riar – Chandigarh
  - Sanjeev – Haryana
  - Dr. G.N. Var – Jammu & Kashmir
  - A representative from Kerala
• The session highlighted major challenges schools encounter due to regulatory impositions by CBSE.

c. Lunch

• Lunch was served at 1:00 PM.

d. Second Panel Discussion

• Topic: Implementation of National Education Policy 2020 and its key issues
• The same panelists deliberated on the challenges and opportunities posed by NEP 2020 implementation.

e. Committee Formation

• Committees were formed to address the issues raised in both discussions, ensuring follow-up actions and representation from all participating states.

f. Closing

• The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Shri Krishnakanth GS, member of USPC.

3. Post-Conference Activities

• Delegates were taken on a boat ride in the Kerala backwaters for sightseeing.
• The day concluded with dinner at 8:00 PM.

4. Key Outcomes

- Recognition of challenges faced by unaided schools under CBSE regulations.

- Identification of hurdles in the implementation of NEP 2020.

- Formation of state-level and inter-state committees to collectively address issues.

- Strengthened collaboration among state representatives for future educational advocacy.

Meet with CBSE Secretary

Meeting with CBSE Secretary in New Delhi CBSE Office,

Educators:

Mr. A.T.B. Bose - Tamil Nadu

Mr. Suresh Chander - Haryana

Mr. Dipin Rao - Haryana

Mr. Rajiv Kumar - Haryana

Mr. R.D. Singh Riar - Chandigarh

Mr. Sashi Kumar - Karnataka

Our team of educators met with the Secretary of CBSE and handed over the memorandum consisting of the following:

1. Section restriction based on land availability

2. Giving Weightage for Class 12 marks for competitive exams

Our memorandum was received positively by the Secretary and assured actions will be taken within a month to accommodate the section restriction based on land.

Secretary of CBSE also suggested to meet NTA Chairman regarding the weightage to be given to Class 12 marks. An effort to arrange a meeting with NTA Chairman is underway.

NATIONAL SCHOOL LEADER'S MEET "POLICY-ISSUES-STRATEGY"

1. Conference Details

• Conference Name: National Meet of School Associations Conference

• Date: 14.02.2025 – 15.02.2025

• Location: Bangalore, Holiday Palms Hotel

• Organizer: APSAI - KAMS, MICSA Bangalore

Inauguration By Guest of Honor Shri. Puttan, MLC Ex- Deputy Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council

2. Objectives

• Purpose of the Conference: To discuss about “POLICY - ISSUES – STRATEGY”.

• Target Audience: CBSE-ICSE Management Members, Educationists, Teachers.

• Key Topics Covered: GST Implications to RTE reimbursements, Regional Language mandates

and National Entrance Examinations.

3. Summary Of Sessions.

• Guest of Honor: Shri. Puttana MLC. Ex- Deputy Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council who

encouraged the speakers and all the delegates and recalled the unscientific regulations of

the board, who are parallel trying to administer rather than conducting examinations, he

also raised that the retrospective implementation of various rigid rules. He assured that he

shall speak at the Vidhana Parishath, Government of Karnataka and also support to raise

issues at central level and the house of the Parliament.Shri. Puttana MLC. Ex- Deputy Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council

• Chief Guest: Shri. M Mallesh Babu. Member of Parliament, Kolar Constituency, Karnataka

Inaugurated day 2, also spoke about the difficulties of various new rules for Private Unaided

School and expressed that having his school how difficulty to meet new regulation which are

retrospective in nature and causing financial burden in implementing same, he encouraged

that the issues raised by the boards would be addressed and give all his assistance towards

representing to the Ministry of Education, he assured and invited the stake holders and

association heads to come Delhi, assuring that he shall arrange a meeting with Ministry of

Education as well as Officials of Secretariat, Education

Shri. M Mallesh Babu. Member of Parliament, Kolar Constituency, Karnataka

• 3.1 Speaker Name: Mr. A T B Bose, Advisor at AMPS, Tamil Nadu.

ATB Bose Advisor for Association of Management of Private Schools (AMPS), Tamil Nadu.

• Topic: GST on Schools and its Effects

ATB Bose presented the GST issues, impact and its harmful effects changing the very

character of service provided by private un-aided schools. The imposition of GST on variousschool-related activities has raised significant concerns, affecting the character of

educational institutions by pushing them into the commercial segment. While core

educational services such as tuition fees remain exempt under Section 23 of the Central

Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, several ancillary services and operational expenses are

subject to taxation, creating financial burdens on schools and impacting students, parents,

and school management across the country.

While tuition fees and supply of textbooks are exempt, additional services such as

notebooks, stationary, uniform, extracurricular coaching and even sale of scrap attract GST,

increasing the overall cost of education. GST on Rent and Infrastructure Costs with the new

rule effective from October 10, 2024, rent paid for land and buildings by schools is taxable,

further straining the financial viability of institutions, especially private unaided schools.

Schools cannot claim ITC on exempt services but still pay taxes on infrastructure, utilities,

and materials, increasing operational costs without relief. Many schools, particularly smaller

institutions, struggle with the financial burden and administrative complexities of GST,

leading to shutdowns or reduced investment in quality education.

Panelists:

• ATB Bose Advisor for Association of Management of Private Schools (AMPS), Tamil Nadu.

• Mr. R D Singh Rair, General Secreatary of Independent Schools Association (ISA),

Chandigarh.

• Mr. Ramchandran Pillai, General Secretary Kerala CBSE School Management.

Educationists and Teachers across the state of Karnataka at the Conference

Discussion: Mr. ATB Bose suggested to form a committee and should meet the Hon’ble

Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, and submit a memorandum requesting the

exemption of all education-related payments made by private un-aided schools from GST.3.2 Following this, each State Association must actively represent their concerns in their

respective GST Council meetings, applying necessary pressure for policy changes.

The government must acknowledge that education is a fundamental right, not a commercial

activity, and establish a clear, unified GST policy that exempts all essential educational

services from taxation. Schools, educational bodies, and stakeholders must collectively

advocate for these reforms to ensure education remains affordable, accessible, and free

from unnecessary financial burdens.

Speaker Name: D. Shashi Kumar, General Secretary, KAMS.

D. Shashi Kumar, General Secretary,

Associated Managements of Primary & Secondary Schools in Karnataka KAMS)

Topic: State Rules, Fixing Reimbursement amount through Go’s,

Loss incurred by Schools, Court orders, etc,.

Under RTE, the reimbursement amount fixed by each State Government at random against

the guidelines laid in RTE Act or by its own Rules. The demand to increase reimbursement

amount of Nursery which is illogically arrived at ₹8,000/- per child. Seeking explanation as to

how Government arrived at per child expenditure for Nursery when Government has no

practical heads of accounts or Nursery Schools separately to calculate the same.

The discussion centered on the inadequacy of reimbursement amounts fixed through Government

Orders (GOs), which fail to cover the actual expenses incurred by schools, leading to significant

financial losses. Furthermore, a High-Level Committee will be formed to engage with the Hon’ble HRD

Minister to present these findings and seek necessary policy revisions. Additionally, the conference

explored the feasibility of challenging the issue in the Supreme Court as a legal remedy to ensure fair

treatment of schools and sustainable financial policies.Panelists:

• ATB Bose Advisor for Association of Management of Private Schools (AMPS), Tamil Nadu.

• Mr. R D Singh Rair, General Secreatary of Independent Schools Association (ISA), Chandigarh.

• Mr. Ramchandran Pillai, General Secretary Kerala CBSE School Management Association.

• Mr. Suresh Chader, President Haryana Progressive School Conference.

Discussion: Forming a High- level Committee to meet HRD Minister. Every State Associations

needs to demand for declaring per child expenditure considering all components of

expenditure heads at public school in any ensuing year. To tackle these concerns, Suresh

Chader, President Haryana Progressive School Conference proposed to appoint a Data

Collection Committee across the country to gather relevant financial and operational data for

challenging in the Supreme Court.

3.3 Speaker Name: M. Srinivasan, MICSA President.

Mr. Srinivasan, President,

Management of Independent CBSE Schools Association (MICSA)

Topic: Teaching of Regional Language as Compulsory Subject.

Mr. Srinivasan highlighted the challenges arising from the imposition of regional language as a

compulsory first or second language for CBSE students, disregarding their preferences. In states like

Karnataka, students are mandated to take the regional language without being given a choice,

creating significant concerns. The lack of clarity on language selection in higher grades leaves

students and schools uncertain about whether to prioritize English, Hindi, or the regional language.

The unequal weightage given to these languages further adds to the confusion, making it unclear

which language to prioritize.

Mr. D Shashi Kumar raised a point about the Migrating students face additional difficulties due to the

absence of a structured and integrated approach to regional language learning, hindering their

adaptation. As it was an open panel discussion which later had many members representing across

country like Mr. Ramchandran Pillai, General Secretary Kerala CBSE School Management

Association Spoke about Kerala state where teaching mother tongue is compulsory only up

to class VIII and there is no compulsion for higher standards. Moreover, rigid language policies

enforced by different state governments exert pressure on schools, complicating admissions and

compliance with evolving regulations.3.4 Then this issue needs to be addressed at higher forums to emphasize its impact on students' learning,

mobility, and school operations. Many other school members suggested that a standardized and

flexible approach to language education is essential to ensure inclusivity, academic continuity, and

student-friendly learning across all states.

Speaker Name: A T B Bose, Advisor for AMPS, Tamil Nadu

Topic: All India Entrance Exams and its Effects.

Mr. Bose addressed the impact of All India Entrance Exams on students and the need for a

structured and fair evaluation system. A key concern raised was the scheduling of entrance

exams, ensuring they do not create excessive pressure on students. It was emphasized that

these exams should serve only as an eligibility criterion rather than a ranking system to reduce

unnecessary competition and stress.

During the open panel discussion, major concerns emerged regarding how the current

ranking-based system has led students to prioritize entrance exam preparation over their

board exams, weakening their overall academic foundation. The relentless pressure to excel

has resulted in chronic stress, anxiety, and depression among students, affecting both their

well-being and school performance. In 2024, a total of 23,33,297 students wrote NEET exam

for 56,300 Government and 52,640 Private, that is total of 1,08,940 medical seats. It means

only 4,67% of students get medical seat. Again, for a total of 17,760 seats in 23 IITs, 14,15,110

students wrote JEE main exam, but only 1.25% of students get IIT seats.

Another critical issue highlighted was the unchecked growth of coaching institutes, which

have commercialized education by dictating their own curriculum and schedules, often

disregarding the school education system. Many board members questioned the role of these

institutes in shaping student learning and called for formal regulations to standardize their

operations. The speaker urged the following,

1. No ranking should be given to entrance examination. It should only be an eligibility

test to apply to medical and IIT institutes.

2. The entrance examinations should be conducted only after two months from the

results of all the school board exams.

3. The main eligibility should be a minimum of 75% aggregated of the three main

subjects.

4. A balancing formula should be created to balance the marks of different State boards

and Central bords.

5. Only 40% of the entrance exam marks should be considered, the balance 60% marks

should be the balanced board exam marks. This will enhance the importance of school

education and the board marks.

The above guidelines must be put forward to our HRD Minister and if required approach the

Supreme court after collecting all relevant data.Delegates across the Country of various CBSE-ISCE Associations

Conclusion: The discussions highlighted critical concerns affecting the education sector, including

GST on educational institutions, inadequate RTE reimbursements, language policy challenges, and

the impact of entrance exams. A key demand was to exempt education-related payments from GST

or reduce them to the lowest slab, as taxation burdens schools and increases costs for students. The

issue of RTE reimbursements was also raised, emphasizing the need for a transparent calculation

process that reflects actual expenditures.

The imposition of regional language as a compulsory subject, particularly in states like

Karnataka, has created difficulties for students, especially migrants. The lack of clarity on

language selection in higher grades and inconsistencies across states necessitate a

standardized and flexible policy. Additionally, the undue stress caused by entrance exams,

which prioritize rankings over learning, has impacted students’ mental well-being and

academic foundation. The unregulated growth of coaching institutes has further

commercialized education, demanding the need for formal regulations.

To address these challenges, the formation of high-level committees and advocacy at

national and state levels were proposed. A unified approach is essential to safeguard the

accessibility, affordability, and quality of education, ensuring that policies prioritize students'

academic growth and well-being over commercialization.

The request of Mr. Bharat Arora Ji, President of ‘Action Committee Unaided Recognized

Schools’ – Delhi to host the next All India meet at New Delhi was welcomed by all delegates.

The next meeting is proposed during the last week of April or first week of May 2025.

All India Conference - Gurugram

The 2^nd All India CBSE Schools' meet was organized by Haryana Progressive Schools Conference - HPSC at Gurugram on 28th September 2024. The following associations and their members attended the meeting and shared their views.

The meeting started with welcome address given by Mr Suresh Chander - President of HPSC.

 1.⁠ ⁠Kerala - Unaided Private Schools Association 

Represented by: Mr. Ramachandran Pillai, Mr. Jacob George, Mr. Sarosh P Abraham, Mr. J Abraham, MR. Victor TI

 2.⁠ ⁠⁠Punjab - FAP

Represented by: Represented by: Dr. Jagjit Singh Dhuri, Mr. Sanjay Gupta, Mr. Anil Mittal, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Saini, Dr. Maninder Pal Arora

 3.⁠ ⁠⁠Tamil Nadu - AMPS

Represented by: Mr. Amaravel Babu, Mr. Deepan Thangavelu, Mr. Suresh Kumar, Mr. Mohan Chander, Mr. Kannan, Mr. A.T.B.Bose, Mr. Sarranyan Madhavan, Ms. Shammi Ratna Chandrashekar

 4.⁠ ⁠⁠Karnataka - KAMS

Represented by: Mr. Sashi Kumar

 5.⁠ ⁠⁠Delhi - Action Committee

Represented by: Mr. Bharath Arora
 6.⁠ ⁠⁠Jammu & Kashmir - Private Schools Association

Represented by: Dr G.N. Var

 7.⁠ ⁠⁠Uttar Pradesh - Independent Self-Financed Schools Association 

 8.⁠ ⁠⁠Chandigarh - Independent Schools Association 

Represented by: Mr.A.B.Singh Sidhu, Mr. R.D. Singh Riar, Mr. Paramdeep Singh Grewal

 9.⁠ ⁠⁠Haryana - HPSC (Host)

Represented by: Mr. Suresh Chander, Mr. Dipin Rao, Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Mr. Prashant Munjal, Mr. Sourav Kumar, Mr. Avinash Taneja

 10. Madhya Pradesh - Representation

Represented by: MRs. Asma Khan, Mrs. Shaily Upadhyay Lahs

MINUTES

The 2nd All India CBSE Schools' Associations MEet started with a welcome address by Mr. Suresh Chander, President of HPSC. After a long and careful discussion on various issues, the following two issues proposed by Mr. Dipin Rao of HPSC and by Mr. Bharath Arora of Action Committee - Delhi were considered to be taken immediately.

• The Section decrease strictly implemented by CBSE as per its byelaws and Appendix V.
• The stringent reimbursement amount fixed by states violating Section 7 of the RTE ACT 2009 and also violating their own rules.

 1.⁠ It was unanimously decided to form a Presidents committee represented by all of the Associations' Presidents or Chairman and empower them to present all the approved memorandum prepared by the UPSAI in its joint meeting to CBSE chairman or HRD minister.
 2.⁠ ⁠⁠It was unanimously decided to appoint Mr. A.T.B. Bose of AMPS, to prepare a memorandum to be submitted to Chairman of CBSE regarding restricting schools on section increase. The said memorandum must be submitted in our website and seek approval.

  3. It was unanimously decided to form a Core Committee consisting of two representatives of each State Associations, preferably the Presidents/Chairmans and the General Secretaries/Secretaries.

     a. The Core committee should ensure that the memorandum to be submitted to the HRD minister or any other minister or the Chairman or any other higher officials is discussed by them either through offline or online meetings, approved and the minutes recorded.

     b. For approval, two-third majority is a must.

     c. The approved memorandum should be posted on the UPSAI website for members opinion. However, the decision of the Core Committee is final.

     d. The appointment with HRD minister or any other minister or the Chairman or any other higher officials should be sought at least 3 days before so as to enable the core commitee members to join.

     e. Once the appointment is sought, it should be intimated to all the core committee members through WhatsApp and Email.

     f. Either the day before or at least 3 hours before the meeting, all the Core Committee members should assemble in a common place and jointly sign the memorandum.

 4.⁠ It was unanimously decided to form a Data Collection Committee represented by one member from each State Associations.

     a. The committee will collect all the amendments made after the notification of the new CBSE bylaws on 18th October 2018.

     b. The committee will collect each State RTE Rule regarding reimbursement of 25% of seat allotment and post the same in UPSAI website.

     c. It will forward to each State Association the format given by Mr. A.T.B. Bose of AMPS regarding reimbursement.

 5.⁠ IT was unanimously decided to continue with the website design and assign representatives to upload all relevant court cases and the data collected from each state in our UPSAI website.
 6.⁠ ⁠⁠It was unanimously decided to apply for e-Court usage so as to automatically download and then upload all relevant cases in our UPSAI website.
 7.⁠ ⁠⁠It was unanimously decided to conduct the 3rd All India CBSE Schools' Associations Meet in Karnataka, hosted by KAMS

The meeting ended with the vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Dipin Rao, Secretary of HPSC.

Minutes drafted by Mr A.T.B. Bose of AMPS and approved by Mr Suresh Chander, President of HPSC.

All India Schools Conference Kodaikanal

1st All India CBSE Schools conference at Kodaikanal will help all the associations in different parts of the country come together and discuss issues faced by each other and collaborate on taking key issues to CBSE for resolution.

Minutes of the 1st All India CBSE Schools’ Associations Meet held at Kodaikanal - Tamil Nadu and hosted by AMPS on 20th June 2024 in which the following associations participated.

1.⁠ ⁠Kerala - Unaided Private Schools Association
2.⁠ ⁠⁠Punjab - FAP 
3.⁠ ⁠⁠Karnataka  - CBSE Association.
4.⁠ ⁠⁠Karnataka - KAMS
5.⁠ ⁠⁠Delhi - Action Committee
6.⁠ ⁠⁠Chandigarh - Independent Schools Association 
7.⁠ ⁠⁠Haryana - HPSC
8.⁠ ⁠⁠Tamil Nadu (Host)

MINUTES

The meeting started with a welcome address by Mrs Shamala Jeyaprakash, Chairman of AMPS.

1.⁠ ⁠It was unanimously decided that all associations should join together and represent each and every issue that affects the smooth running of schools.
2.⁠ ⁠⁠To meet once in three months, hosted by any one State Association.
3.⁠ ⁠⁠To form a Website Committee with one representative from each State Associations. The website should be of an high end with machine learning.
4.⁠ ⁠⁠To share the cost of developing and maintaining the website, it was unanimously decided to pay ₹50,000 each by each Association.
5.⁠ ⁠⁠It was decided to upload all the High Court and Supreme Court in our website and give access only to those Associations that are associated together.
6.⁠ ⁠⁠It was unanimously decided to conduct the 2nd All India CBSE Schools’ Associations Meet in Gurgawan - Haryana, hosted by HPSE.

The meeting ended with the vote of thanks proposed by Mr Mohan Chander, General Secretary of AMPS.

Minutes drafted by Mr A.T.B. Bose of AMPS and approved by Mrs Shyamala Jayaprakash of AMPS.