The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has called for an urgent meeting with representatives of all recognised English medium schools under its jurisdiction, to discuss the admission process for students currently enrolled in unauthorised schools. The meeting will be held on 29 April at the TMC Education Department office.
This development follows the Corporation’s recent directive ordering the closure of 81 unauthorised English medium schools operating within Thane district. These institutions have reportedly been functioning without proper approval for the past three years.
According to Uttam Sawant, President of the Thane unit of the Maharashtra English School Trustees Association, the affected schools had initially started as private tuition centres and gradually evolved into full-fledged educational institutions, all while bypassing regulatory norms. “We had been raising concerns about these schools for a long time. Finally, the municipal corporation has taken concrete action,” he stated.
Sawant further revealed that more than 18,000 students have been enrolled in these unauthorised schools over the years. With the closure now imminent, the Corporation has initiated steps to facilitate their smooth transfer to recognised institutions.
The upcoming meeting will serve as a planning forum to coordinate the redistribution of these students, ensuring minimal disruption to their academic journey. School principals, secretaries, and administrative heads from across the region have been asked to attend and contribute to the discussion.
TMC officials emphasised the importance of the session, urging all stakeholders to come prepared with relevant data and documentation to support an efficient and transparent admission process.