5 Feb 2010, 2259 hrs IST

Kerala News: NEW DELHI: In an effort to improve standard of education across the country, the Quality Council of India (QCI) will approach state governments for providing accreditation to all schools functioning under them.

The programme aims at giving a certificate to schools on the basis of quality of education, good classrooms, standardised teaching, recreational space, its buses and overall hygiene for the students in the premises.

As a pilot project, QCI has contacted five state governments -- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala-- to help it in accrediting schools.

"We want to make a common standard in all schools, especially the ones run by the state government or local bodies. It will help in raising the quality of education and develop children," said Dr Giridhar J Gyani, Secretary General, QCI.

The council has already given accreditation to eight NDMC-run schools in the capital.