New Era, Palm Beach schools to remain open: Balasaheb Thorat

School education minister Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday assured the lower house that his department would ensure that no schools in the city — including New Era and Palm Beach in South Mumbai — will shut down. He also announced a probe into the fresh complaints against New Era School.

It was alleged in the lower house that the New Era management had stopped taking new admissions with the intention of shutting down the school. BJP MLA from Malabar Hill Mangalprabhat Lodha, who raised the issue through the calling attention motion in the house on Wednesday, alleged that the management was planning to shut down the school despite the government’s order. “New Era management has even suspended the transport facility,” he said.

He also alleged that classes of Palm Beach School at Breach Candy are being conducted in the bed room and living room of an apartment. “The Palm Beach School size has come down to 1,500 square ft from the earlier 40,000 sq ft,” said Lodha. “The management is planning a five-star school and marketing facility. The classes are being conducted in tiny rooms.”

After a series of questions from various MLAs and the opposition’s demand for an assurance to safeguard the city schools, Thorat announced an inquiry into the complaints.

“After successful intervention and subsequent order of the government last year, New Era management continued its school. We will probe the fresh complaint and ensure that it is neither shifted nor shut down from Gowalia Tank,” the minister said.