The Manipur Government has tightened regulations for private schools by amending the Manipur Private School (Registration and Regulation) Rules, 2024, introducing stricter requirements on financial management, infrastructure, classroom space and playground facilities.
The Manipur Private School (Registration and Regulation) (1st Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified by the Education (S) Department and published in the Manipur Gazette, came into force from the date of publication.
Under the amended rules, private schools must have sufficient financial resources to ensure functioning, meet running expenses and undertake improvement of school facilities and teacher capacity building.
Schools must maintain accounts transparently and have them audited and certified by a Chartered Accountant. Financial statements must be maintained in accordance with rules.
The amended rules require private schools to fulfil prescribed requirements within two years of receiving their registration certificate. The norms cannot be used to relax or dilute the minimum standards prescribed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
On infrastructure, schools must have land for an all-weather building, playground and open space for assembly and co-curricular activities. At least one square metre of space per student is prescribed for classrooms and designated activity areas.
School buildings must be structurally safe and certified by a competent authority, with adequate ventilation, natural lighting, sanitation and facilities for classrooms, laboratories, libraries and offices.
The amendment requires at least one classroom for every class and an office-cum-store-cum-Head Teacher’s room, while classroom numbers must conform to the prescribed pupil-teacher ratio.
Schools must provide an assembly area of at least 1 metre by 0.50 metre per student.
Schools without their own playground may use facilities belonging to public authorities, private entities, villages, clubs or individuals within 250 metres, subject to certification or an enforceable memorandum of understanding.
The amendment omits sub-clause 2.d.xxix of the 2024 rules.
