State yet to clear ₹6.38 crore in dues

Private schools in the city have refused to admit students under the Right to Education Act as the State government is yet to clear over ₹6.38 crore in dues to 347 schools in the city. Of the 3,239 seats open for admissions, only 1,460 students have been granted admission so far.

Mahesh Palkar, Education officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, said, “We shall clear the payments when we receive the money from the government. Meetings are being held to sort the issue. We have asked parents of students to be patient as we are expecting the dues to be cleared soon.”

To deal with the impasse, the BMC has extended the admission period from April 4 to April 10. Bharat Malik, convenor, Federation of the School Associations of Maharashtra, said, “We shall not accept admissions unless the State clears the dues.”