86 private Marathi schools yet to get govt recognition

In a bid to draw the education department’s attention to the state government’s pending decision to give recognition to 86 private Marathi medium schools across the state; the Shikshan Hakk Samanvay Samiti (SHSS) has decided to agitate outside the office of the director of education from July 16. The SHSS is the umbrella institution for private Marathi schools.

While talking to the media on Friday, president of SHSS, Ramesh Panse, said, “Last year, school education minister Rajendra Darda had promised us to give recognition to private Marathi medium schools after we had gone on a hunger strike, but he has failed to keep his word. As many as 86 schools across the state, including 10 in Pune, have not been recognised since 2008.”Instead of giving recognition to the existing ones, the state government is considering giving permission to new Marathi medium schools, he said.

“There are some 88 private Marathi medium primary and secondary schools that are imparting good quality education in the state. However, there are another 86 schools that are also imparting quality education, but the state has issued notices to shut them down. Surprisingly, in the last few years, 800 English medium schools have got recognition in the state,” he said. “We will continue the agitation till we get a written confirmation from the state on the issue,” he added.