Madurai: More than 8,000 matriculation schools in Tamil Nadu have been operating without renewed recognition since 2022-23 due to delays at the Directorate of Matriculation Schools, according to the State Private Schools Federation.

The state has over 13,000 matriculation schools, enrolling more than 62 lakh students. Recognition is to be renewed every three years after obtaining building stability, fire safety, health, and planning clearances, with applications routed through the District Education Offices (DEOs).

Private school associations allege that files are not being forwarded from DEO offices to the Directorate unless school representatives follow up in person. They also cite the 2018 order mandating approval from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning as a major hurdle, with no detailed guidelines issued to date.

Federation president Arumugam said a zonal camp system introduced during the previous AIADMK regime expedited renewals, but since the DMK came to power, such camps have been rare. “If an untoward incident occurs in a school without valid recognition, administrators will face serious issues, though the delays are due to official inaction,” he said, urging Chief Minister M K Stalin to intervene.