No permission for new private Marathi schools

A group of school managements running private, Marathi-medium schools across the state will launch a month-long agitation against the state government, from January 31, for refusing to give them permission to set up schools.

A group of school managements running private, Marathi-medium schools across the state will launch a month-long agitation against the state government, from January 31, for refusing to give them permission to set up schools.

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Since 2008, the government has not granted permission for any new primary or secondary privately-run Marathi-medium school. In 2008, the government had invited proposals for new Marathi-medium schools, but after receiving 6,028 proposals, refused to grant permission.

“Our applications were rejected without giving any reasons,” said Arun Thakur, who runs a school in Nashik, and is the co-ordinator for Shikshan Hakka Samanvaya Samiti, a network of schools behind the campaign.

The state claims it is preparing a master plan to map existing schools and identify areas that need new schools. “Unless we have a plan for the whole state we cannot allow additional schools,” said Rajendra Darda, the school education minister.