MESTA Raises Concerns Over Presence Of Nearly 4,000 Unauthorised Schools In Maharashtra, Slams Govt Inaction

Mumbai: Sanjayrao Tayade Patil, president of the Maharashtra English Schools Trustees Association (MESTA), has raised serious concerns over the presence of nearly 4,000 unauthorised schools operating across the state. Despite multiple appeals, he alleges that the government has failed to take adequate action against these institutions.

About The Case

Patil’s statement follows a recent move by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), which issued closure notices to 81 unauthorised English-medium schools in the Thane district. While acknowledging TMC's step, Patil criticised the state authorities for their overall inaction and lack of consistent enforcement.

“We have made numerous attempts to alert the government and demand strict action through various written communications, yet no concrete measures have been taken so far,” said Patil.

He further announced that MESTA will convene a statewide meeting on 21 April to address several pressing issues related to English-medium schools, with the proliferation of unrecognised institutions being a key topic on the agenda.

According to education stakeholders, many of these unauthorised schools began as private tuition classes before evolving into full-fledged educational institutions, all while bypassing the necessary government certification and approvals.

Statement Of The President Of The Thane Unit Of MESTA

Uttam Sawant, President of the Thane unit of MESTA, underscored the risks posed by such schools. “This is fundamentally a matter of student safety and institutional accountability. In the event of any unfortunate incident, no individual or authority could be held responsible, as these schools are not officially recognised,” he stated.

Sawant urged that students currently enrolled in these institutions be promptly transferred to recognised schools to ensure their safety and access to legitimate education. The unauthorised schools in Thane were asked to cease their operations in the upcoming 2025-26 academic year and admit all the students from these schools to the nearby recognised schools. The association continues to press for a similar and immediate government intervention to safeguard students.