A proposal to change the name of a school in Dadar was rejected by the education committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday.
The panel directed the education department to conduct an inquiry to find out if Sharadashram School complied with the norms of the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), and how it secured a no objection certificate for following the ICSE curriculum.
The school was embroiled in controversy this year after it decided to replace the SSC curriculum from Classes I to V with the ICSE curriculum. Parents had opposed the move last year. The school had also changed its name to SVM International for which it requires the education committee’s approval.
On April 24, several parents and Yuva Sena member Sainath Durge wrote to Rajendra Ahire, Deputy Director, State Education Department, highlighting seven concerns including change in the school’s name and curriculum. The parents complained that the school did not have enough classrooms, parking space and a 24,000 square feet playground to be eligible to be an ICSE-affiliated school.
Mangesh Satamkar, education committee chairman, said, “We cannot allow the school to use the word ‘international’ in its name when there are complaints of it not complying with ICSE norms. I have ordered the department to inquire into the matter.” Mr. Satamkar directed that the Beat Officer who claimed to have verified the norms be suspended pending inquiry.
Mahesh Palkar, chief education officer, said, “We will inquire into the matter. The NoC can be revoked if we find the school did not comply with ICSE norms. The officer can be suspended.”
Subhash Jadhav, administrative officer of the school, said, “We haven’t got any notification about the decision. We will take legal opinion and decide on future course of action. We have all the necessary permissions from the State government.”
