Over 400 Sion School Students Face Uncertainty As Campus Is Declared Unauthorised

On Wednesday, June 3, more than 400 students of Orchids International School in Sion, Mumbai, were left facing uncertainty after the education inspector (north) pasted a notice at the campus declaring the institution "unauthorised" because it lacks an Occupancy Certificate (OC). The notice advised parents not to enroll their children in the school, sparking confusion just days before the start of the new academic session.

Stunned parents rushed to the school on Wednesday morning after the notice was put up, complaining of a complete lack of warning. Many parents expressed distress as the new academic year is scheduled to begin in just 10 days.

According to affected parents, approximately 90 per cent of them have already paid the school fees. Some parents reported that staff members suggested relocating the students to other branches of Orchids International School, which parents rejected due to the Sion branch's convenient proximity to their homes.

Following the uproar, Rajesh Kankal, the deputy director of education for the Mumbai zone, clarified that the school has managed to secure an Occupancy Certificate since it was first served a notice regarding its lack of government recognition on March 18. Kankal stated that the education department will now re-examine the school's proposal for full recognition.

Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009, operating an unauthorised institution carries an initial penalty of Rs 1 lakh for the school management. If the school continues to operate after receiving the official notice, it faces an additional daily fine of Rs 10,000.

While the school principal did not respond to inquiries, staff members reportedly told parents that their concerns would be addressed during a meeting scheduled for this Sunday. Parents are currently waiting for the meeting to obtain clarity on potential fee refunds and the school's concrete plans for placing the affected students.