51 Unauthorised Schools Flagged in Pune; Check Details Before Admission of Children

Pune, 21st April 2025: A statewide inspection by the School Education Department has revealed that 51 schools operating within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune district limits are functioning without legal authorisation. These institutions form part of a broader list of over 800 unrecognised schools identified across Maharashtra, raising serious concerns over student welfare and academic legitimacy.

As of now, the department has permanently shut down around 100 such schools across the state. The inspection drive, conducted ahead of the 2025–26 academic session, covered approximately 1,300 educational institutions.

A senior education officer said, “Preliminary scrutiny indicated irregularities in over 800 schools, and further verification confirmed that 51 of them in Pune are running without proper approvals. We suspect the number may rise. We urge parents to alert us if they come across any dubious schools.”

Crackdown Ordered by Commissioner

In response to the findings, the School Education Commissioner has instructed immediate closure of all unrecognised schools in key urban districts, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Pune. The directive also calls for affected students to be accommodated in officially recognised institutions. Education officers are required to submit detailed compliance reports to the Deputy Director’s office.

Parent Alert: Financial and Academic Risk

Officials warned that enrolling children in unauthorised schools can result in financial loss and disrupt their academic trajectory. “Such schools often operate without standard curricula or regulatory oversight. Parents should thoroughly verify a school’s credentials before seeking admission,” the officer added.

How to Verify School Recognition

The department is urging parents to use the Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) portal to check a school’s registration status. Valid schools must have the following:

• A valid No Objection Certificate (NOC)
• State Board or CBSE/ICSE affiliation documents
• A Letter of Intent issued by the state government

Admissions should only be pursued after confirming all these documents.

Breakdown of Unauthorised Schools

Within PMC Limits:

• Unauthorised schools: 09
• Institutions with unapproved letters of intent: 05
• Schools that shifted locations without fresh approvals: 09

In Pune District (excluding PMC):

• Unauthorised schools: 08
• Schools with invalid letters of intent: 05
• Migrated but unrecognised institutions: 15

Parents and guardians are encouraged to conduct thorough checks before finalising school admissions for the upcoming academic year.