Panaji, Jul 31 (TOI): Seven years after the state first called on pre-primary schools to register with the directorate of education, 509 pre-primary schools have enrolled with the directorate. Bardez taluka has the highest number of 111 pre-primary schools, followed by 91 in Salcete, as per records. But the state has not yet kept its promise of regulating the syllabus and infrastructure.

Official documents only state that a "committee was constituted on December 17, 2015, to streamline pre-primary school system in the state," in response to a query about guidelines framed for these school such as fees charged to the students, salaries given to the teaching and non-teaching staff, requirements of campus for the school. The Right to Education Act requires that states provide free pre-school education to children from the age of three to six as preparation for school education. But the lack of control over preschools in the state allows them to operate even from dingy premises. It also lets them follow a syllabus which could be inappropriate for early years of learning.

The schools were initially not coming forward to voluntarily register, as the registration provided them with no clear benefits, because preprimary schools do not receive any government aid. With no syllabus prescribed as well, the schools do not gain anything from the registration.

It is estimated that at least three to four times the number of preprimary schools currently registered with the department are in existence. Many are functioning from apartments, thus making it difficult to locate them. No survey has been carried out either to identify such schools.