Nagpur: Maharashtra is set to establish 73 new schools, with a majority being English-medium institutions. However, despite being one of the state’s major cities, Nagpur has been left out of the expansion plan, while Mumbai has secured the highest number of new schools.

According to the School Education Department, of the 73 new schools approved, 65 will be English-medium, while only eight will offer Marathi as the medium of instruction. Additionally, 54 existing schools have been permitted to expand by introducing higher classes, including 46 English-medium, eight Marathi-medium, and two Urdu-medium schools.

The department had received 241 proposals for new schools and extensions, out of which 127 have been approved after thorough scrutiny. The list of sanctioned proposals is now open for public objections, after which the final recommendations will be submitted to the Ministry of School Education for a final decision.

Mumbai Leads, Other Cities Benefit While Nagpur Overlooked:

Among the 73 new schools, Mumbai has secured the highest number, with 28 new institutions, though only one will be Marathi-medium. Pune and Nashik will each get nine English-medium schools, while Amravati will see eight new schools, including two Marathi-medium institutions. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar will have seven schools, of which two will offer Marathi instruction. Kolhapur will receive six schools, with three Marathi-medium, and Latur will get five new English-medium schools.

Surprisingly, Nagpur does not feature on the list of approved schools, despite its growing demand for educational infrastructure. The absence of new public English medium schools in the city raises concerns about the state’s priorities when it comes to addressing regional educational needs.

State Board Dominates, CBSE and ICSE Get Limited Approvals:

Among the 73 new schools, 60 will follow the Maharashtra State Board curriculum, while 11 will be affiliated with CBSE. Additionally, one school each will be under the ICSE and Cambridge boards.

While the proposal list is still open for objections, education experts in Nagpur are questioning why the city has been left out, particularly when other cities have seen significant expansions in school infrastructure. The final decision from the Ministry of School Education is awaited.