Maharashtra: 674 state schools to disappear by 2024

Representation pic

The director of education (secondary and higher secondary schools) in an order to his divisional subordinates, has said there should be no unauthorised schools in the state by the next academic year. In his order issued on January 9, he has cracked the whip on divisional deputy directors and other district-level education officials about allowing as many as 674 unauthorised schools to remain operational, though orders to initiate action against them were issued after their list was made public in May 2022.

The order further warns that divisional education officers will be held accountable for failure in their duties when there are court cases if parents are duped, or when students miss out on an academic year because of these unauthorised schools. "These schools must be closed immediately or action should be initiated in accordance with section 18 (5) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Instructions to do so have been issued to officials in all districts in Maharashtra," said Krishna Kumar Patil, state director of education (secondary and Higher secondary schools).

Section 18 (5) of the RTE act 2009 states that any person or organisation which establishes or runs a school without obtaining a certificate of recognition, or continues to run a school after withdrawal of recognition, shall be liable to a fine which may extend to one lakh rupees and in case of continuing contraventions, to a fine of Rs 10,000 each day during which such contravention continues.

The list of these illegal schools was made based on the information given by the state government's Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE). Representation pic

According to district-wise data, there are 674 unlicensed/unauthorised schools operating through the state. Of these, the highest number, 239 schools, are from the Mumbai district (suburbs and city), followed by 148 schools from Thane. Of the 239 schools in Mumbai, a total of 222 schools are from the Maharashtra State Board and the remaining 17 schools are from other education boards in the country.

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The list of these schools was made based on the information given by the state government's Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE). According to this data, these 674 schools do not have state approval nor do they have any valid recognition from the state education department.

The list was made public in May 2022, following which orders to initiate action against these schools were issued, however, there have been complaints of inaction, prompting the director of school education to issue the order.

‘Why no action?'

"It is necessary for students and their parents to know about the existence of such schools as they are still operational. To avoid the academic loss of students, the state government should immediately take strict action against these schools and shut them down. What has prevented them from shutting down these schools? Trained teachers can be shifted to schools where there are vacancies," said Sushil Shejule, coordinator of Marathi Shala Sansthachalak Sangh.

Arundhati Chavan, president of Parent Teacher Association (PTA)-United Forum said, "The new academic year is yet to start, during this time, education officials can coordinate with parents and students and facilitate their shift to other recognised schools in their area and shut down the unauthorised school. This is not a new problem, such schools are in existence for years. This proves just how much corruption exists in the education system allowing such schools to run."

Voices

Sushil Shejule, Marathi Shala Sansthachalak Sangh
‘What has prevented them from shutting down these schools? Trained teachers can be shifted to schools where there are vacancies'

Arundhati Chavan, Parent Teacher Association (PTA)-United Forum
The new academic year is yet to start, during this time, education officials can coordinate with parents and students and facilitate their shift to other recognised schools in their area and shut down the unauthorised school.

235
No of unauthorised schools in Mumbai district

148
No of illegal schools in Thane