Education Ministry clarifies School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines 2026 not mandatory for private unaided schools
New Delhi, May 21
The Ministry of Education on Thursday clarified that the School Management Committee Guidelines 2026 are not applicable to private unaided schools covered under Section 2 of the Right to Education Act, provided such institutions do not receive any financial aid or grants from the government or local authorities.
In a statement posted on X, the Ministry said the clarification was being issued in view of concerns raised by certain sections regarding the implementation of the guidelines.
"With reference to concerns raised by certain sections of society regarding the School Management Committee Guidelines (SMCs) 2026, the Ministry of Education clarifies that the Guidelines are not applicable to private unaided schools covered under Section 2(n)(iv) of the RTE Act, provided such institutions do not receive any aid or grants from the appropriate government or local authority towards meeting their expenses," the ministry said.
However, the ministry said such schools are encouraged to voluntarily constitute School Management Committees to promote transparency, accountability and participatory governance.
The ministry emphasised that education is a shared responsibility, and strengthening collaboration between stakeholders is essential for the overall functioning.
"Education is a shared responsibility of the government, schools, parents and the community. Strengthening collaboration among parents, schools, and other stakeholders is essential to improving the overall functioning of schools and ensuring better learning outcomes for children," it added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education on Saturday held a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL) Secretary Sanjay Kumar to review strategies for mainstreaming out-of-school children through a new initiative involving the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), states and district administrations.
According to a press release issued by the Education Ministry, during the meeting, Sanjay Kumar highlighted concerns over school dropouts, stating that out of every 100 children entering Class I, only 62 reach Class XII. He further said that, according to the latest PLFS estimates, over two crore children in the 14-18 age group are currently out of school, PIB said in a release.
The Secretary said economic compulsions, domestic responsibilities and livelihood-related challenges are major reasons behind children dropping out of the education system. He stressed that every child should have access to education up to the secondary and senior secondary levels, along with employable skills linked to local economic opportunities.
He further said that while efforts should focus on reintegrating children into formal schools, those unable to return should be connected with flexible learning pathways through NIOS and State Open Schools using Open and Distance Learning mechanisms.
The Ministry informed that pilot districts with high concentrations of out-of-school children have been identified in Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in 10 districts across the country.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The bigger issue is the 2 crore out-of-school children in the 14-18 age group! 😱 Only 62 out of 100 kids reaching Class XII? That's a national shame. NIOS and flexible learning are good steps, but why are we still arguing about SMC guidelines for private schools when so many children can't even access basic education? Priorities, please!
I'm a teacher in a private unaided school in Bangalore. The SMC guidelines, even if voluntary, are a welcome move. We already have a parents' committee but it's mostly for show. Real accountability—like discussing fees, teacher quality, infrastructure—is rare. Hope more schools take this seriously. Education isn't a business, yaar.
The pilot districts for out-of-school children include places like Bihar, UP, and Odisha—no surprise there. But what about urban slums in Delhi or Mumbai? The problem is everywhere. Also, linking education to local economic opportunities is smart, but we need proper implementation, not just another scheme on paper. 🤞
Interesting move from the Indian Education Ministry. As someone working in education policy, I see the logic—private unaided schools shouldn't be burdened with mandates if they're not taking government funds. But voluntary SMCs? That's toothless. In many countries, all schools have mandatory parent councils. India needs stronger accountability, not just encouragement.
The drop-out rate is heartbreaking—economic reasons, domestic work, etc. I've seen kids in my village in Rajasthan leave school to help families. Flexible learning via NIOS is a
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.