By Anita Shukla
MUMBAI: The critical issue of illegal and unauthorized educational institutions has once again come to the forefront in Maharashtra, with a shocking revelation that as many as 164 schools are operating without any valid approval or recognition in Mumbai and its suburbs. The academic future of hundreds of students enrolled in these institutions currently hangs in the balance. This sensitive matter has now reached the state legislature, where Shiv Sena members aggressively questioned the government in the Legislative Council regarding the legitimacy and ongoing operations of these schools.
According to the official list released by the Directorate of Education, these 164 schools have been classified as unauthorized. The data highlights that the density of such schools is significantly higher in slum areas and densely populated pockets of the city. The M/East ward, which covers Mankhurd, has recorded the highest number with 65 unauthorized schools. This is followed closely by the P/North ward in Malad with 25 schools, while both the R/South ward in Kandivali and the L ward have reported 12 unauthorized schools each.
Education department officials revealed that out of these 164 unauthorized schools, 48 have submitted proposals to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seeking official recognition. However, executing strict action against the remaining non-compliant schools poses a massive challenge for the administration. Since most of these institutions operate within heavily congested slum localities, the government admitted in its written reply that accommodating and transferring these hundreds of students into alternative government or recognized schools remains a major technical obstacle.
The political heat over the issue intensified as Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) Anil Parab and Sachin Ahir raised serious concerns about the enforcement of law. They pointed out that according to a Government Resolution (GR) passed in December 2023, local education officers were to be held personally accountable for any unauthorized schools running in their jurisdiction, facing strict disciplinary action. The opposition questioned how these schools continue to operate smoothly despite such stringent regulations. While School Education Minister Dada Bhuse addressed the queries in the House, the visibly slow pace of administrative action has complicated the matter further, leaving the future of young students highly uncertain.
