The Maharashtra government had announced a new scheme on September 19 last year that will allow private entities with a SEBI registered CSR certificate to adopt government schools in the state. The scheme, called Adopt a School, aims to improve the quality of education and infrastructure in these schools, irrespective of their medium of instruction. The scheme will be implemented in phases across the state and the period of adoption will be either five or ten years. The private entities can also choose to add their name to the existing name of the school for the duration of the adoption.
As per the government decision it allows individuals, corporations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to adopt government schools. The initiative intends to improve the overall standard and educational quality. This decision has not gone down well among the educationists and teachers as well. Thousands of primary teachers took to the streets after the government’s decision. Multiple organisations actively working in the interiors of Maharashtra have come together against the state government’s decision in the sector of school education–amendment to Right To Education (RTE) Act, Scheme of Cluster of Schools and adoption of schools.
Significantly, out of the total 509 schools which closed down in Maharashtra, the highest figure belonged to the private sector. As against 19,632 private schools recorded in 2020-21, Maharashtra now has 19,268 private schools, indicating closure of 364 schools. In comparison, only 95 government schools have closed down during the period.
At the same time speculation over the corporate giant who wish to adopt some 5,000 schools in the state under its “Adopt a School” scheme got louder. It all started when School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar while addressing a press conference in Mumbai said a city-based multinational conglomerate is looking to adopt 5,000 government-run schools in the state. “A big corporate house has shown interest in adopting one school in each administrative block having 8-10 schools”, the Minister stated without disclosing any name. But within a few days the reality came into the light that the multinational conglomerate is Reliance Education owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).
The scheme, which was announced in September 2023, envisaged a model under which individuals, corporations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could adopt government schools. Some of them showed interest in schools. But the real reason behind their generosity was the land of schools. They were hardly bothered about upgrading the infrastructure and amenities at these schools and improving the quality of education. Due to which, the scheme met with stiff opposition by students, teachers and parents. Education activist Heramb Kulkarni said the government is not serious about the feelings of stakeholders. Students, teachers and parents have written letters to the state government.
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