Mumbai school closure declared illegal, edu department directs school to restart admission

Mumbai’s Robert Money Technical High School and Junior College has been severely reprimanded by the deputy director of school education and directed to stop its illegal closure and restart the admission process.

Recently, parents and teachers of the school had lodged a complaint with the deputy director of the school education department and Christian Reform United People's Association (CRUPA) stating that students studying from classes VI to IX were forcibly given leaving certificates as the school was planning to shut down. BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha from the South Mumbai constituency too intervened in the matter and wrote to the education minister Vinod Tawde. An inquiry into the matter has been initiated by the deputy director's office.

In a case of swift action been taken, the deputy director of school education BB Chavan shot off a letter on May 7 to the school management directing it to continue with the admission process while also stating that the school’s closure is illegal and should be stopped.

CRUPA secretary and activist Cyril Dara stated, "CRUPA's 'Save 180-year-old Robert Money School' campaign has been successful. We appeal to the state education department to appoint an administrator and an ad-hoc committee to ensure smooth functioning of the school. There are many Christian organisations/churches/institutions that can run the school very efficiently and effectively without any money being involved. We appeal to parents and community members to send their children to Robert Money School as admissions are open. The school reopens on June 13."

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When contacted Sharad Balid, the school administrator denied having received any circular from the deputy director's office. He said, “Whoever wants LC, we will hand it over to them. The management has decided to hold classes only for Std X students in the upcoming academic year."