Maharashtra Shuts 255 Marathi Schools Across Regions; Enrollment Decline Sparks Concern

Maharashtra is witnessing a significant wave of closures of Marathi-medium schools, with 255 institutions being shut down across different parts of the state. The affected regions include Konkan, Vidarbha, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and North Maharashtra, according to recent government data presented in the state assembly. The large-scale closures have raised serious concerns about the future of regional-language education and access to affordable schooling, particularly for students from economically weaker backgrounds who depend heavily on government-run Marathi schools for their education.

The primary reason cited for these shutdowns is critically low enrollment. Several schools have failed to meet the prescribed minimum student-teacher ratio, prompting authorities to merge smaller institutions with larger nearby schools. Over the years, many parents have increasingly opted for private and English-medium schools, believing they offer better career prospects and stronger preparation for competitive examinations. Rapid urbanisation and changing aspirations have further accelerated this shift. However, this trend has created an imbalance, leaving traditional Marathi-medium schools struggling to sustain adequate student strength.

The impact of these closures is expected to be felt most severely in rural areas. With smaller schools being merged, children in villages may now have to travel an additional one to three kilometres to reach the nearest functioning school. For families with limited financial resources, even this added distance can pose a serious obstacle. At the same time, private school education often comes with significantly higher fees, making it unaffordable for many. Education activists warn that reduced access to nearby government schools could increase the risk of dropouts among students from low-income households.

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The situation in Mumbai reflects a similar pattern. Data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) shows that the number of Marathi-medium schools under its jurisdiction declined from 368 in 2014-15 to 262 in 2023-24 — a drop of more than 100 schools. Student enrollment has also decreased sharply, falling from 1.32 lakh to 85,500 between 2019 and 2025, marking a 35 per cent decline. South Mumbai alone has reportedly lost 20 Marathi schools during this period. The steady reduction has sparked debate over the sustainability of Marathi education in the city.

Ironically, this development comes at a time when the BMC has earmarked ₹4,248 crore for education from its ₹75,000 crore budget following the 2026 civic elections, with plans to introduce digital classrooms and upgrade infrastructure. While major announcements are being made to modernise education, critics question the rationale behind shutting down Marathi-medium schools simultaneously. As concerns grow over shrinking affordable education options, attention now turns to the Mahayuti government and what concrete measures it will take to safeguard Marathi education and prevent a potential dropout crisis across Maharashtra.