Patna: The Bihar government is set to relax norms for establishing private schools in the state as part of its broader ‘ease of doing business’ initiative, officials said.
Under the proposed changes, the industries department will act as the nodal agency to promote private sector participation, while a special director in the education department has been designated as the nodal officer to oversee implementation.
Officials said the move is aimed at encouraging investment in the education sector and facilitating the opening of more private schools by easing regulatory requirements, particularly those related to land and infrastructure.
At present, private schools seeking affiliation with national boards such as Central Board of Secondary Education and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the state education department.
Existing rules mandate that CBSE-affiliated schools must have at least one acre of land, while ICSE-affiliated schools require a minimum of 50 decimals. Schools are also required to renew their NOC every three years.
Officials indicated that these conditions are likely to be relaxed, with exemptions being considered to make it easier for private institutions to set up and operate in the state.
The government is expected to introduce amendments to the regulatory framework governing private schools to reflect the proposed changes.
Authorities said the initiative is intended to expand access to quality education, improve infrastructure and attract greater private investment into the sector.
