The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and education department sealed a total of 47 out of 289 unlicensed private primary schools in the city during the previous academic year. These closures are part of a bigger initiative to combat the presence of unlicensed schools. In the previous academic year, 55 additional unlawful schools were also closed in the districts of Raigad, Palghar, and Thane.
After that, in May, the deputy director of education (DyDE) gave instructions to staff members to prepare a new report on unlawful schools that were functioning throughout the greater Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). In all, 517 elementary schools throughout the five MMR districts were identified as functioning illegally as a result of the exercise.
13 of these institutions obtained clearance during a special effort, whereas 88 schools were shut down by the government. Two schools also received sanctions, while 416 schools that were considered illegal are still operating in the MMR region while they wait for official approval.
13 of the 97 schools that were found to be illegal in the secondary area eventually received approval. Authorities penalized one school while closing 14 others. 70 secondary schools that are currently considered illegal are working to get official approval.
800 unlawful schools are located in Maharashtra, according to the state's education minister Deepak Kesarkar, who also declared in March that if the required documentation was not produced by the school administration, action, that includes closure, would be undertaken against the schools.
The students from the above schools were placed at neighboring schools to reduce damage to the curriculum. According to the article, around 1,500 pupils were transferred to nearby schools after counseling sessions were held for their parents, who were not aware of the schools' clearance status.
Mumbai's closure procedure has drawn criticism for moving too slowly, though. Education campaigner Nitin Dalvi emphasized the need for immediate action and stated “The education department had directed punitive measures against these schools. If the imposed penalties are not collected, necessary FIRs should be registered, and these schools should be closed.”
The department has only received about 3 lakh rupees in fines from three institutions, the report said. Dalvi added, “The education department has penalized schools with weaker financial backgrounds, while some eligible schools are liable for penalties of up to ₹ 3 crores.”
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