AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has taken over management of the Seventh Day Adventist School in Ahmedabad following multiple legal violations. The decision comes nearly four months after a Class 10 student was murdered on campus, prompting a state inquiry into the school’s operations.
The state Education Department issued a notification confirming the takeover of the private institution in Khokhra. Authorities found the school repeatedly breached statutory provisions across various education laws, including the Right to Education Act and state regulations.
Investigation Follows Student Murder
Inquiry into the school’s management began after a Class 10 student was allegedly stabbed to death by a fellow student. The incident triggered significant protests by parents, who accused the school administration of bias and failure to provide timely medical assistance to the injured student.
Following the death, the department directed the Ahmedabad District Education Officer to investigate the school’s adherence to rules. The inquiry revealed several irregularities related to the school’s management, infrastructure, affiliation, and daily operations.
Key Violations Identified
The investigation uncovered multiple instances of non-compliance and concealed information. These included:
- Dual Board Concealment: The school operated under the ICSE Board (Classes 1-12) and the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (Classes 11-12, science stream). It concealed its ICSE affiliation while obtaining permission for the science stream, violating Gujarat Board rules.
- Unauthorized Expansion: Additional classes and divisions were started without obtaining required approvals from education boards.
- Management Ambiguity: Records showed involvement of multiple trusts in running the school. Board rules mandate a single non-profit entity for management, creating ambiguity.
- Unapproved Changes: The school made changes to its premises and administration without obtaining necessary approvals. Supporting documents for these changes were incomplete or missing.
- Missing Minority Status: A valid certification for its minority institution status was not produced for the primary section.
- Unpermitted Shifts: The school operated in two shifts without mandatory permissions, adequate staffing arrangements, or separate operational records.
Commercial Practices and Land Use
The Education Department also flagged the school for engaging in commercial activities on campus. This included the sale of books, which state authorities deemed as profiteering.
Under the Gujarat Self-Financed Schools (Regulation) Act, 2017, and board bylaws, schools are prohibited from profit-oriented activities. Audited accounts submitted by the school showed revenue from book sales, indicating a violation of anti-profiteering provisions.
Another major issue involved lease condition violations. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation leased the land for educational purposes to one entity. However, a different trust operated the school, breaching the lease terms.
Inspectors also found discrepancies between approved building plans and actual structures. Permissions existed for only one building block, but inspections revealed multiple blocks in operation. The additional structures lacked valid building use permissions.
Furthermore, the school submitted affidavits claiming no other educational institutions operated on campus. However, inspections confirmed the presence of a college, for which the school had not obtained necessary no-objection certificates from the Gujarat Board.
Legal Breaches and Government Action
Based on these findings, the Education Department concluded the school violated provisions of the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1949, and the Right to Education Act, 2009. The Gujarat Self-Financed Schools (Regulation) Act, 2017, was also breached.
With over 10,000 students enrolled across various sections, the state government cited student interest as the reason for the takeover.
Impact on Students and Future Steps
During the takeover period, no new admissions will be permitted at the Seventh Day Adventist School. The state government now manages all sections, including ICSE-affiliated primary, secondary, and higher secondary divisions, and the Gujarat Board-affiliated science stream.
The District Education Officer of Ahmedabad city has been appointed as administrator. This officer will manage the school’s operations until further orders. Education authorities and concerned boards will separately issue detailed operational guidelines for the takeover.