Pune: 661 Unauthorized Schools In Maharashtra, Education Department Launches Crackdown

Pune, 12th December 2023: In a bid to curb the proliferation of unauthorized and bogus schools in the State, the Government of Maharashtra School Education and Sports Department has initiated decisive actions.

According to Minister of Marathi Language and Minister of Education of Maharashtra Deepak Kesarkar, an alarming 661 schools have been identified as operating unofficially within the State. The minister revealed that stern measures are being taken to address this issue, including issuing show-cause notices to responsible officials and conducting thorough investigations.

During the winter session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Minister Kesarkar disclosed that show-cause notices have been served to the Deputy Director of Education, emphasizing the need for accountability in addressing the proliferation of unauthorized schools. Additionally, notices have been issued to Education Officers regarding irregularities in the oversight of these unauthorized educational institutions.

The Education Minister highlighted the significant steps taken by regional offices to tackle this issue. Authorities have been instructed to close down unauthorized schools, take criminal action against the operators, register cases, and impose fines where necessary. Out of the 661 unauthorized schools identified, 78 have already been closed, with 6,308 students from these institutions being appropriately adjusted.

In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) area, which accounted for 186 unauthorized schools, 14 have been successfully closed. The remaining 172 schools are currently under investigation, and further actions will be taken based on the outcomes of these investigations.

Minister Kesarkar shed light on the historical context, mentioning that before 2012, numerous schools and organizations in the Maharashtra State had appealed to the Government to consider regularizing schools by relaxing the provisions of the Maharashtra Self-financed Schools (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2012. This historical context has played a role in the current situation, and efforts are being made to strike a balance between regulation and the needs of educational institutions.