There are as many as 204 private unauthorised schools operating in Mumbai, of which, the highest number i.e. 36 are located in Goregaon suburbs, an RTI query has revealed.
There are as many as 204 private unauthorised schools operating in Mumbai, of which, the highest number i.e. 36 are located in Goregaon suburbs, an RTI query has revealed. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not taken any strict action against these schools apart from sending notices citing that the Right to Education Act has no clarity on collection of fines from such schools.
Information sought from the civic body’s education department by social activist Anil Galgali revealed a list of 204 unauthorised schools with English, Marathi and Urdu as medium of instruction.
To Mr Galgali’s query regarding action taken against such schools, he was informed that as per provisions of the Right to Education Act and actions based under Section 18(5) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, a fine of Rs 1 lakh is levied on any unauthorised school. In the event the school fails to cough up the fine, a fine of Rs 10,000 is imposed per day. While the department informed Mr Galgali that all said schools have been issued notice, it expressed its inability to collect the fine, citing lack of clarity in the RTE Act. “The RTE Act 2009 does not contain clarity on ‘Account Head’ under which, fines levied on unauthorised schools have to be collected. Clarity is absent even in the orders of government as well as its various resolutions issued in regard to implementation of the Act,” said the reply.
However, BMC deputy education officer Shambhavi Jogi said that these schools cannot be termed as unathorised. “The schools have been operating for many years. But their recognition cannot be extended as they have not complied with some of the parameters in the RTE act. If action is taken against them, the future of a large number of students will be in jeopardy. Hence, these schools have been asked to comply with RTE guidelines at the earliest. Also, correspondence is on with the government to relax some of the tough guidelines,” she said.
The education department further replied that it has sought necessary direction from the government regarding ‘Account Head’ under which, fines levied have to be collected and deposited with the treasury, but it has not yet received necessary guidelines from the government.
Reacting to the reply, Mr Galgali said that criminal cases should be filed against promoters of these schools. “The BMC is facing losses of Rs 2 crore as there is no clarity about fine collection,” he claimed.
According to the list, “a maximum of such schools, 36, are in the jurisdiction of Goregaon M West ward; followed by 30 in Kurla L ward; 20 in Malad P North ward; 12 in Ghatkopar N ward; 12 in Chembur M East ward; 10 in Matunga F North ward; 10 in Andheri K East ward; 10 in Borivali R Central ward; 10 in Dahisar R North ward; 9 in Kandivali R south ward; 9 in Bhandup S ward; 8 in Goregaon P South ward; 8 in Mahim G North ward; 5 in Byculla E ward; 5 in Andheri K West ward; 3 in Sandhurst Road B ward; 2 in Mulund T ward; 2 in Parel F South ward; and 1 each in Colaba A Ward, Santacruz H East ward and Grant Road D ward.”
