Financial losses drive over 1,200 private schools in state to closure

Inability to repay loans, non-payment of fees, and students dropping out of school were among the prime reasons for more than 1,200 schools in Maharashtra to shut down during the two years of the Covid pandemic. Most of them conducted classes up to Std X.

All these schools were affiliated to the Independent English Schools’ Association (IESA), a body of private school owners. A majority of these schools were set up three to four years ago before the pandemic but there were also a few schools that were around for more than 15 years.

The IESA said that the state government was equally responsible for the loss as it did not pay attention to the constant help and support that private schools needed during this period, members of IESA who conducted a news conference on Tuesday in Pune, said.