Mumbai: Former MP Kirit Somaiya from BJP has claimed that 34% of the 849 schools declared unauthorised in the city by BMC’s education department in the past four academic years fall in M-East ward, comprising Govandi, Mankhurd and parts of Deonar.He alleged that despite the civic body’s annual publication of lists identifying such schools and issuing notices against them, no action has been taken against many and they continue to operate with impunity.In a letter to BMC chief Ashwini Bhide on Monday, he said 67 schools in the ward were declared unauthorised in 2020-21; 100 in 2022-23; 57 in 2023-24 and 65 in 2025-26, taking the total to 289 schools.Deputy municipal commissioner (education) Prachi Jambhekar said FIRs were filed against 43 such schools this year, and many students from errant schools that were shut were shifted to civic schools. She attributed the large number of illegal schools in the ward to “the prevalence of huge slums”.In his letter, Somaiya named five schools in Govandi and Bainganwadi, which, he claimed, have repeatedly figured on BMC’s list of unauthorised schools since 2020-21 but still continue to function.He alleged that some of these institutions operate from unauthorised structures and issue school certificates, leaving certificates and transfer certificates despite lacking official recognition.(With inputs from Richa Pinto)
