400 Sion School Students Face Uncertainty After Campus Declared Unauthorised
On Wednesday, over 400 students of Orchids International School in Sion, Mumbai, were left facing immense uncertainty just days before the new academic session after the education inspector (north) pasted a notice declaring the school "unauthorised" due to the lack of an occupancy certificate (OC). The notice advised parents not to enroll their children in the institution.
Following the chaos, Rajesh Kankal, the deputy director of education for the Mumbai zone, stated that the school has since managed to secure an OC after being issued a notice regarding the lack of government recognition on March 18. Kankal added that the department will now review the school's proposal for full recognition.
Despite this development, the sudden notice caused significant confusion and panic among parents, who rushed to the school campus on Wednesday morning. Parents reported a lack of communication from the school management, though some staff members indicated that a meeting would be held this Sunday to address their concerns.
One parent, whose daughter is scheduled to begin Class 8, expressed frustration over the situation, noting that they chose the school because of its proximity to their home. The parent stated that they were never informed about the building being unauthorised and were suddenly told, just ten days before the academic year, that the school would not be operational and that students should relocate to other branches of Orchids.
According to parents, approximately 90 per cent of them have already paid their fees, making the lack of transparency highly concerning. Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, operating an unauthorised institution carries an initial penalty of Rs 1 lakh, followed by an additional daily fine of Rs 10,000 if operations continue.
Parents are currently awaiting the scheduled Sunday meeting to obtain further clarity regarding school fees, refunds, and concrete placement plans for the affected students.
