Pune: 51 Bogus Schools Exposed, Education Department Warns Parents to Stay Alert
In a startling revelation, the School Education Department has identified 51 unauthorised schools operating within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune district jurisdictions. These schools are among the 800 institutions recently stamped as bogus across Maharashtra. Alarmingly, experts estimate that the number of illegal schools in Pune may be twice the reported figure.
This disclosure comes after an inspection of 1,300 schools statewide ahead of the 2025–2026 academic year. A senior official from the School Education Department confirmed that irregularities were found in more than 800 schools across the state. “Fifty-one bogus schools have been found in Pune, and the number may rise. Parents should lodge complaints about such institutions,” the official said.
PMC and Pune District Breakdown:
- Under PMC:
- Unauthorised schools: 09
- Unauthorised letter of intent received: 05
- Unauthorised migrated schools: 09
- Under Pune District:
- Unauthorised schools: 08
- Unauthorised letter of intent received: 05
- Unauthorised migrated schools: 15
Following a directive from the Commissioner of School Education, all illegal schools in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar, and Pune have been ordered to shut down, and their students are to be relocated to government-approved schools. At least 100 such schools in Maharashtra have already been permanently closed.
The department warns that unauthorised schools not only financially burden parents but also disrupt students’ education. Parents are urged to verify the legitimacy of any school through the Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) portal. This portal provides the school’s registration number and approval status.
What Parents Should Check Before Admission:
- No-objection certificate
- Board approval letter
- Letter of intent from the state government
As the crackdown intensifies, the education department continues to urge vigilance. Parents are reminded to prioritise proper verification before enrolling their children in any private school.
