Schools Under Pressure for 100% APAAR Registration, with Risk of Pay Cuts

Mumbai, December 30, 2024 – School teachers and principals in Mumbai are under significant pressure from the State Education Department to complete the registration process for the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) before the year ends. The district education officer has issued a stern warning: “If the registration work is not completed by the deadline, salaries will not be released, and unaided schools risk losing their recognition.”

The APAAR initiative, part of the central government’s ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ program, aims to simplify academic tracking and document management. However, its implementation has been fraught with logistical and ethical challenges. Teachers have reported technical issues on the APAAR portal, which delay the process, while parents have raised concerns about privacy.

Despite multiple extensions to the initial deadline, the registration and Aadhaar validation of students in secondary and higher secondary schools have not reached 100%. The first deadline was set for November 20, extended to November 30, then to December 8, and again to December 281. The notice emphasized the urgency, stating: “Salaries will not be released, and unaided schools risk losing their recognition if the registration work is not completed by the deadline.”

Mahendra Ganpule, a member of the Maharashtra State Principals Association, criticized the education department for pushing principals and teachers without addressing the practical issues they face. He highlighted the difficulties in linking student names with their Aadhaar details, especially in a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai where students come from across the country.

The district education officer’s notice has added to the pressure on schools to meet the 100% target, despite the challenges. The situation underscores the need for a more supportive approach to ensure the successful implementation of the APAAR initiative.