Khandipara Municipal Marathi School in Bhandup’s ‘S’ ward shuts down; parents blame BMC and activists demand urgent rebuilding and reopening for underprivileged students
MUMBAI — Another blow has struck Marathi-medium education in Mumbai as the Khandipara Municipal Marathi School in Bhandup has been ordered closed. This closure follows the earlier shutdown of Paspoli Marathi School in the same area due to shortage of teachers, signalling a worrying pattern in the collapse of public schooling.
The Khandipara school, located in the ‘S’ ward of the Municipal Corporation, was housed in a building that has been declared unsafe. Built in 1971 on land provided by the District Collector, the school served as a vital educational centre for children from low-income families.
However, the building had not seen any proper maintenance or repairs for years. Repeated complaints to the authorities went unheard, leaving the school in a dangerously run-down condition. Eventually, the structure became too risky for children to study in, leading to the school’s abrupt closure.
Parents of the students are furious. With no affordable alternatives nearby, many have been forced to transfer their children to private schools, putting a financial burden on already struggling families.
Speaking to Clarion India, Shivnath Darade, President of the Maharashtra State Shikshak Parishad, said, “The structure of the Khandipara school building is in a very dilapidated condition. It is not safe for children. That is why the school has been closed.”
He added, “Parents have been forced to move their children to private schools in the vicinity, but the responsibility for the closure of BMC schools one after another lies with the civic administration. Why the civic administration does not pay attention to this is surprising.”
Local MLA Sanjay Upadhyay has taken a strong stand on the issue. He accused the civic authorities of neglect and demanded immediate reconstruction of the school building. “The closure of the school has hurt the children of poor families. I have spoken to the municipal commissioner and demanded that the rebuilding work should begin without delay and that the school must be reopened as soon as possible,” he said.
He also stressed the need to preserve Marathi-medium schools, which are steadily declining due to neglect by the authorities. “Education in the mother tongue is essential. These schools are lifelines for local communities. The BMC must take responsibility and act,” he added.
Parents from the area echoed these concerns. Meena Jadhav, a mother of two, said, “We don’t have money to pay private school fees. This school was free and close to home. Now we are being pushed into hardship because no one cared to repair the building.”
Education activists have pointed out that several Marathi-medium schools across Mumbai have been quietly shut down over the years, either citing infrastructure problems or staff shortages. They argue that there is an ongoing campaign of neglect which is pushing poor students out of the public education system and into the arms of expensive private schools.
One activist from the area said, “This is not just about one school. This is a pattern. First, they don’t send teachers, then they ignore maintenance. Eventually, the schools are shut. Who benefits? Private schools. Who suffers? Poor children.”
As pressure mounts on the BMC to take action, questions remain over the future of local education. Will the civic body respond to the growing anger and fix the system? Or will more schools meet the same fate as Khandipara?
