The Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2020-21 has identified 674 primary and secondary schools in the state as unauthorized. This revelation has prompted Dinkar Temkar, the Director of Primary Education, to order strict actions against these unauthorized schools to prevent any exploitation of staff, parents, and students.
According to the guidelines:
- Unauthorized schools will initially face a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
- If these schools continue to operate, they will incur a daily fine of Rs 10,000.
- The Maharashtra Cops Association has advocated for the publication of a list of unauthorized schools and subsequent punitive actions against them.
Temkar issued a circular instructing all Primary and Secondary Education Officers across Zilla Parishads and Education Inspectors in Greater Mumbai to take immediate action as per directives from Education Commissioner Suraj Mandhare. This includes declaring unauthorized schools and publishing their names in local newspapers.
Key points emphasized:
- Parents are cautioned against admitting children to unauthorized schools due to potential academic risks.
- The list of unauthorized schools must be prominently displayed at district and taluka level offices.
- Persistent non-compliance by unauthorized schools will result in escalating fines and ultimately closure.
Efforts are also underway to ensure fines are enforced and collected as per the stipulated guidelines outlined in the Government Gazette of 2012. These measures aim to uphold educational standards and protect the interests of students and their families across Maharashtra.
