The Madhya Pradesh School Education Department is preparing a new circular to address concerns surrounding the e-attendance system for teachers, with cluster principals likely to be given limited powers to provide relief in genuine cases where teachers are unable to mark attendance on time.

The move comes amid continued concerns raised by teachers over practical difficulties with the digital attendance system. According to School Education Commissioner Abhishek Singh, the system has now stabilised, with around 97-98% of teachers marking e-attendance every day.

The department is expected to issue detailed guidelines within the next 15 days, outlining the circumstances in which cluster principals can consider delays in e-attendance on practical grounds.

Cluster Principals to Get Limited Powers

Under the proposed arrangement, cluster principals will be authorised to consider genuine cases involving delayed e-attendance by teachers working in schools under their jurisdiction.

The department plans to clearly define the circumstances in which such relief can be granted. The guidelines are also expected to include safeguards to prevent arbitrary decisions and misuse of the relaxation.

The objective is to ensure that genuine technical or practical difficulties do not unnecessarily result in action against teachers while preventing habitual violations of the attendance system.

Genuine Problems to Be Considered

Commissioner Abhishek Singh said the department's objective is not to penalise or harass teachers but to make the attendance system more organised and effective.

According to the department, genuine practical difficulties in marking attendance will be considered. However, repeated failure to mark e-attendance or attempts to misuse the system could continue to invite action.

The department also plans to address other technical and operational problems being reported in the attendance software.

Teacher Groups Raised Technical Issues

The department has also received feedback from representatives of the Adhyapak Shikshak Sanyukt Morcha regarding difficulties being faced by teachers while using the e-attendance system.

Officials have indicated that the concerns raised by teachers will be examined and necessary improvements will be made to the software and system.

The proposed guidelines for cluster principals are expected to provide a more uniform approach across districts while ensuring that genuine cases are not treated in the same manner as habitual violations.

June Salary Held Over E-Attendance to Be Paid

A significant relief has also been announced for teachers whose June salary was withheld or deducted because of e-attendance-related issues.

Commissioner Singh said such teachers will be paid their withheld or deducted salary, provided their e-attendance records for July and August are being properly maintained.

However, the department has made it clear that salary deductions will continue in cases involving teachers who habitually arrive late or repeatedly fail to mark e-attendance.

System to Continue With Stricter Monitoring

The department's latest approach indicates that e-attendance will remain in place, but genuine technical and practical difficulties will be addressed through a more defined mechanism.

Teachers have also been advised to bring practical problems to the notice of their respective cluster principals, where they can be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The upcoming circular is expected to clarify the powers of cluster principals and establish clear conditions under which relief can be provided.

The Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted relief to meritorious candidates involved in the 2018 teacher recruitment process, directing the state government to give eligible teachers another opportunity to fill their preferred school choices. The court has ordered that the process be completed within two months, after which postings will be made on the basis of merit.

The ruling came in a batch of 54 appeals filed by teachers, including Seoni middle-school teacher Sakshi Tamrakar, who challenged aspects of the posting process. The petitioners alleged that candidates with higher merit scores were denied the opportunity to select preferred schools, while some candidates with lower scores were allotted schools of their choice.

A division bench comprising Justice Anand Pathak and Justice B P Sharma heard the matter and held that changes introduced after the recruitment process had begun could not adversely affect the rights of candidates. The court directed the state to provide meritorious candidates already posted under the Tribal Affairs Department an opportunity to participate in school choice filling under the School Education Department.

Dispute Linked to 2018 Recruitment

The matter dates back to the joint teacher recruitment process conducted in 2018 on the basis of the Teacher Eligibility Test for the School Education and Tribal Affairs departments.

According to the petitioners, several candidates from reserved categories had secured marks higher than candidates in the general category. Based on their merit, these candidates were appointed to schools under the Tribal Affairs Department.

However, subsequent directions issued in November and December 2022 reportedly prevented teachers who had already joined one department from participating in counselling and choice filling for available vacancies.

The petitioners argued that these later instructions altered the original recruitment process and deprived higher-merit candidates of an opportunity to choose schools according to their preferences.

Sakshi Tamrakar Case Highlighted

During the hearing, advocates Prashant Kumar Badarya, Anshuman Singh and Amit Kumar Chaturvedi represented the petitioners. The case of Sakshi Tamrakar was specifically highlighted before the court.

According to the petitioners, Tamrakar had completed document verification and her name had also appeared on the choice list. However, after she received an appointment letter from the Tribal Affairs Department, she was denied an opportunity to participate in the subsequent choice-filling process.

Two-Month Deadline for Choice Filling

The High Court has now directed the state government to provide the concerned meritorious candidates an opportunity to submit their school preferences within two months.

Their subsequent postings will be determined according to their merit and the applicable choice-filling policy.

The court also addressed the possible impact on teachers who are already working but may have lower merit. If such teachers are affected by the revised process, the state has been directed to accommodate them against available vacancies in the concerned department or another department.

The ruling is expected to provide relief to candidates involved in the long-running teacher recruitment dispute. It also reinforces the principle that the basic terms of a recruitment process and the rights flowing from them cannot be altered retrospectively in a manner that disadvantages candidates after the selection process has already commenced.

The Madhya Pradesh School Education Department has notified a new set of guidelines governing the establishment and operation of private high schools and higher secondary schools, introducing stricter compliance norms for recognition, renewal and institutional expansion.

Under the revised framework, private schools will now be required to comply with enhanced infrastructure, academic and administrative standards. Institutions seeking recognition or renewal will also have to deposit a security amount based on their student strength. Schools violating the prescribed conditions could face penalties of up to ₹2 lakh, apart from suspension or cancellation of recognition.

New Recognition Framework Introduced

The School Education Department has finalised comprehensive guidelines covering recognition of private schools as well as renewal, extension of recognition, addition of academic streams, change of medium of instruction, relocation of campuses and change of institutional names.

Officials said the revised framework is aimed at improving the quality of education while ensuring greater accountability among private educational institutions operating in the state.

The department has made it clear that schools must comply with all prescribed norms to continue operating under the state's regulatory framework.

Security Deposit Linked to Student Strength

One of the major changes introduced under the new policy is the mandatory security deposit for schools applying for fresh recognition or renewal.

According to the guidelines, the amount of the security deposit will be determined on the basis of the number of enrolled students. The provision is intended to ensure institutional accountability and financial commitment towards maintaining educational standards.

The department has not only linked recognition to compliance with operational norms but has also incorporated financial safeguards through the security deposit mechanism.

Penalty for Rule Violations

The government has empowered the School Education Department to initiate action against schools found violating the prescribed conditions.

Authorities may issue notices to defaulting institutions and, depending on the seriousness of the violation, proceed with cancellation of recognition. In addition, schools may face financial penalties of up to ₹2 lakh for non-compliance with the regulations.

Officials said the provisions are intended to discourage irregularities and ensure that recognised institutions continue to meet prescribed standards throughout their operation.

Infrastructure and Academic Standards Strengthened

The revised guidelines make several facilities mandatory for private schools seeking recognition.

Institutions will now be required to maintain adequate infrastructure, qualified teaching staff, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities, science laboratories, libraries and other academic resources. Compliance with safety-related provisions has also been made compulsory under the new framework.

The department believes these measures will help create a safer and better-equipped learning environment for students across the state.

State-Level Recognition Committee to Be Formed

As part of the new system, the state government will constitute a State Recognition Committee to oversee matters related to private school approvals and regulatory decisions.

The committee will consist of at least three members and will be responsible for formulating policies and taking decisions on recognition, renewal, expansion of recognition, addition of new faculties, relocation of schools and change of institutional names.

The panel is expected to include the Principal Secretary or Secretary of the School Education Department, the Commissioner of the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) and senior officials from the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education.

Aim to Improve Transparency

Education department officials said the revised policy seeks to establish a more transparent and uniform mechanism for regulating private schools across Madhya Pradesh.

By strengthening recognition procedures and introducing stricter monitoring, the government aims to improve educational standards while ensuring that private institutions remain accountable to students, parents and regulatory authorities.

The new guidelines are expected to come into effect for schools applying for recognition and renewal under the upcoming academic cycle.