New schools can use public grounds for students: Maharashtra government

The Assembly on Wednesday cleared a bill allowing corporate houses registered as non-profit companies to start primary and secondary schools.

The state government on Wednesday said new schools can tie up with public grounds in the vicinity.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday said new schools can tie up with public grounds for students. (Representational Image)

The Assembly on Wednesday cleared a bill allowing corporate houses registered as non-profit companies to start primary and secondary schools. The amendment in the Maharashtra Self-Financed Schools Act reduced the land required to start a school from 2,000sqm to 500sqm in Mumbai, and from 2 acres to 1 acre in rural areas.

Legislators, including former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, raised objections to amendment, saying schools will be opened without playgrounds and sufficient open space.

Responding to the debate, education minister Vinod Tawde said, “The schools will be allowed to tie up with the public grounds. They cannot charge exorbitant fee as they will be governed under the Fee Regulation Act. We will make consent of 75% members of PTA mandatory.”

Tawde also announced plans to make Marathi-medium schools run by municipal corporations and district councils into international schools.

Meanwhile, members of the business advisory committee of the state legislature recommended holding monsoon session in Nagpur, instead of winter, parliamentary affairs minister Girish Bapat told the Assembly.