81 Private Schools in Thane Declared Illegal, Leaving 20,000 Students in Limbo

Close to 20,000 students are left in the dark about their future following Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Tuesday pronouncing 81 private schools, some of which had claimed to be affiliated with CBSE, as illegal and is considering shutting them down in the near future. The schools have been issued a Rs 52-crore fine and FIRs have been filed against 68.

The schools had defaulted on provisions like running without registration and from unauthorized buildings or residential societies. "Diva had the maximum illegal schools (65), followed by Mumbra, Kalwa, Majiwada-Manpada and Uthalsar," said Sachin Sangale, deputy municipal commissioner, education.

Water supply connections of a few of the schools have been cut, officials added, saying that the town development office and the anti-encroachment department will draw up an action plan as per the civic laws.

The officials added that TMC is most likely to provide a chance to the school managements to fall in line with the norms. Sangale added that five of them have come to the education department with an intention to regularise operations by adhering to the norms.

The news, issued on the day that marks the culmination of the present academic year, was of concern to parents who suspect that enrolled students at these institutions risk being denied the academic year. The civic administration claimed action against problematic schools will never abate, though it also committed itself to finding place in other local schools for such students who stand affected. "We are negotiating with private schools in the area. Nineteen schools have shown interest in taking in these students," said Sangale.

TMC has initiated a campaign to detect and eliminate illegal schools after its commissioner, Saurabh Rao, instructed the same. "The majority of the schools run in low income group areas where parents are unaware of the necessity to determine the authenticity of institutions. Many parents are attracted due to the lower fees and proximity. We are conducting regular awareness campaigns," said Sangale.