Following various shortcomings in the school and junior college education system being highlighted in recent times, activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) gheraoed N.B. Chavan, deputy director of education, at his office in Charni Road on Monday. The activists relented only after Mr Chavan assured them of action against errant schools and colleges and also called them up personally and demanded an explanation regarding the activists’ complaints against them.
Santosh Gangurde, vice-president, (University of Mumbai wing) of MNVS, said, “There have been numerous reports in recent times on how schools and colleges have commercialised education as well as their premises, but are not providing proper facilities. Managements of these institutions have blatantly flouted rules and the education department has been a mute spectator. Hence, we decided to gherao Mr Chavan and force him to carry out his duty.” The entire incident occurred around mid-morning and the activists left by afternoon.
Responding to the demands of the activists, Mr Chavan had no option, but to call up the management of schools and junior colleges that the MNVS activists complained of. “I called up the respective managements and they assured me that they would try to adhere to the rules,” said Mr Chavan.
“Our activities will not end here,” said Mr Gangurde. He added that MNVS has been in the process of collecting data about the managements skirting rules and would be confronting concerned authorities with it soon. “We have found out that schools are not fulfilling their teaching days criteria as well as having sufficiently qualified teachers,” said Mr Gangurde.
Some schools and colleges have been found guilty of letting out their premises on rent after school hours to private coaching classes and other institutions. The MNVS activists alleged that aided institutions are misusing their properties for personal gains because as per the rules, their functioning should be on a no-profit no-loss basis.