Education Minister Shaik Baksh has said all unregistered private schools throughout the country will be informed through the media on Sunday to come forward and be registered with the Ministry of Education.

“Within the Education Act, Number Nine of 1976, I have powers to deal with these matters and I will invoke those powers, if the schools do not come on board and be registered,” he warned.

Speaking at a recent press briefing at his Ministry, Baksh pointed out that currently there are many private schools at the nursery, primary and secondary levels in operation here.

“After the registration, we will visit these schools to see if they meet the conditions to operate private schools,” he pointed out.

According to Baksh, the new Education Act, which he hopes will be tabled in parliament before the year ends, will deal with this problem in a systematic way.

That legislation will cover a wide range of issues, including corporal punishment, and will mandate that all private schools obtain a license to operate.

These schools will have to satisfy certain criteria, notably a satisfactory work programme, recreational facilities and enough space to avoid over crowding, before being issued a license.

In addition, the school administrators will have to comply with his ministry non-academic standards.

He said the National Accreditation Council which has responsibility for post-secondary educational institutions will also be calling on all schools in this category which are not registered.

The Ministry of Education in May appointed a new board to the Council to replace the former office holders whose tenure came to an ended.

The board is tasked with carrying out the stipulations of the Accreditation Act which entail accrediting the curriculum of private post-secondary institutions.

He said persons desirous of establishing a medical or nursing school will have to first obtain a permit from the Accreditation Council.