As per the RTI (Right to Information) obtained by the Samaan Shikshan Mulbhoot Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti (a committee for equal fundamental right to education), there are 55 unrecognised/ illegal schools in Thane city
Inaction by the TMC's education department has made illegal schools flourish in Thane in the past two years. While there were 39 illegal schools in Thane in 2017, their number has gone up to 55 in 2018.
As per the RTI (Right to Information) obtained by the Samaan Shikshan Mulbhoot Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti (a committee for equal fundamental right to education), there are 55 unrecognised/ illegal schools in Thane city and more in Mumbra, Kalwa in 2017-18. "The figure for 2016-17 was 39 schools and due to inaction of the TMC's education department, the number has gone up," says Ghanshyam Sonar from the Samiti.
Of these 55 schools, 38 are English medium schools, eight are Hindi, seven are Marathi and two are Urdu medium schools. "According to the Right to Education Act, which came into effect since June 2010, these schools should be fined Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh and should be shut down," he says. "The statistics, however, shows that TMC was unable to take such legal steps and these schools have flourished," he says.
"What is startling is that maximum of these schools are in Mumbra and Kalwa and continue to operate. Is it due to political intervention that these schools are permitted to function," he questions.
Moreover, TMC has not taken any effort to notify the school students and their parents about these illegal schools, he alleges. "TMC is supposed to put up notice outside such schools that these are illegal and that students can avail admission in civic schools. But even that has not been done," he says.
There are over 271 civic, government, aided, unaided and private recognised schools in Thane. And 184 are unaided, but recognised private schools in Thane.
When contacted, Manish Joshi, deputy commissioner, education, TMC, said that they are in the process of taking action against such illegal schools and refused to elaborate further. The civic body recently sent closure notices to 11 illegal schools in Diva and Mumbra.
If TMC shuts these schools, it will affect over 46,000 students from class I to VIII, of which 20,894 students are from English medium schools.
TIME TO ACT
- Of these 55 schools, 38 are English medium schools, eight are Hindi, seven are Marathi and two are Urdu medium schools
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