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Parents will be able to approach grievance redressal officers in schools.
The education officers for primary and secondary sections from zilla parishads have been told to ensure that schools make the appointments. Once appointed, the schools will have to display a board on their premises with the names of the designated redressal officer.
In a move which will bring in more accountability in the schooling system, government-run and private schools in Maharashtra will soon have grievance redressal officers to deal with complaints at the institute-level. The state education department has asked schools to appoint these officers before August 10 after a directive from the education commissioner.
Currently, there is no way to resolve school-level complaints directed to district-level, zonal-level or state-level offices. The education officers for primary and secondary sections from zilla parishads have been told to ensure that schools make the appointments.
Once appointed, the schools will have to display a board on their premises with the names of the designated redressal officer. "The board should be blue with letters in white and visible from 100 feet," a circular reads.
Rajesh Hiwale, spokesperson of the state-level association of primary teachers, said such a move would be helpful. "Besides serving as an institution-level platform to deal with complaints, the grievance redressal officer will also link the school with higher authorities and share crucial information," he said.
Hiwale said that the board should also list their cellphone numbers and landline numbers. Penal action awaits institutions failing to make the appointments.
Parents have suggested that the education department take the responsibility of reviewing the complaints disposed of by grievance redressal officers, thus closing the loop.
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