Mumbai schools get circular to open, turns out to be a bureaucratic glitch

This picture has been used for representational purpose

The city schools on Wednesday witnessed a classic example of absence of coordination between two government bodies. Managements and teachers were shocked to receive a circular from the office of the Deputy Director of Education (DyDE) Mumbai, asking to start preparations for welcoming Std V-VIII students back on campus.

They were confused as to how schools could reopen for lower classes when the BMC just last week put on hold its decision to resume classes for Std IX-XII students.

The DyDE Mumbai issued the circular to zonal education inspectors, who forwarded it to school principals on Wednesday afternoon. It read, "As state government has approved the plan of reopening schools from Std V to Std VIII from January 27, please begin working on required preparations and planning for it."

It took a second circular to clear up the confusion. "The circular was issued considering the state government's approval... But the final decision on reopening of schools is to be taken in coordination with the local civic body. Hence, decisions taken by the local civic body should be followed," Deputy Director of Education Sandeep Sangave clarified late in the evening.

"This is an embarrassing lack of coordination between the BMC and the office of the DyDE. How can two contradictory orders be issued for a single region?" questioned Anil Bornare from Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad.

Prashant Redij from Mumbai School Principals' Association said, "Which order are we supposed to follow? And if the local civic body has to take the final decision, then what was the point of this confusion?"