13 Unauthorized Schools Identified in Pune District; 24 Recognized Schools Found Operating at Unapproved Locations

Pune, 16th June 2025: In a significant breach of education regulations, the Primary Education Department of the Pune Zilla Parishad has discovered that 13 schools are operating without government authorization across the Pune district, including both urban and rural areas. Furthermore, nine schools have only received a Letter of Intent (LoI) and lack final approval, while 24 government-recognized schools were found to be operating from locations not originally sanctioned.

The findings come amidst rising parental demand for English-medium education, which has spurred a boom in private school admissions, often without proper due diligence. Education officials warn that many parents unknowingly enroll their children in institutions that fail to meet legal requirements, leaving them vulnerable to both academic and financial risks.

Primary Education Officer Sanjay Naikde issued a strong public advisory urging parents to verify a school’s recognition status before enrolling their children. “Unauthorized schools mislead the public through false advertisements. Parents must remain alert,” Naikde emphasized.

The department’s findings are based on reports submitted by the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations, as well as group education officers from the district’s rural talukas.

Breakdown of Findings:
13 schools are running without any government recognition.
9 schools have a Letter of Intent but have not received final approval.
24 recognized schools are operating from non-approved locations.

Taluka-Wise Data of Unapproved Operations:
Daund, Haveli, Purandar, Maval: 1 school each
Mulshi: 7 schools
Khed: 3 schools
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation: 1 school
Pune Municipal Corporation: 9 schools

To prevent further violations, Naikde has directed municipal and rural authorities to immediately shut down unauthorized institutions and install notice boards outside such schools indicating their lack of recognition.

The officer also made it clear that failure to act against such violations would result in accountability for local administrative, educational, and municipal officials. “Ensuring the legality and quality of education is not just a departmental duty, but a collective responsibility,” Naikde added.