Andhra Pradesh Simplifies Rules for Opening New Schools

The Andhra Pradesh government has simplified the regulations for establishing new schools by removing some of the existing stringent requirements. The School Education Department issued orders on Wednesday, introducing several amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Educational Institutions Rules. Under the revised guidelines, District Educational Officers (DEOs) will grant permission to establish pre-primary, primary and upper-primary schools, while Regional Joint Directors (RJDs) will approve secondary schools. Applicants can submit self-certification documents instead of sanitation certificates. Self-certification will also be accepted in place of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) previously required from traffic authorities, municipal bodies or gram panchayats. However, submitting false documents will attract a penalty ranging from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh.

The government has clarified that compliance with fire safety standards remains mandatory for all new schools. Applicants must submit building structure and occupancy certificates, along with a fire safety certificate. Applications for school permissions can be submitted until October 31 of the academic year. Those who miss the deadline can apply until December 31 by paying a penalty of Rs. 50,000. The authorities will process applications and grant approvals within three months. If an application is rejected, the reasons must be clearly stated in the official order. Recognition for schools will be granted through a single-window portal.