Maharashtra education minister Dada Bhuse has directed the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to survey its closed schools, complete necessary repairs and prepare a plan to increase enrolment in civic-run institutions.
Bhuse issued the directions after inspecting NMC schools in Panchavati, Cidco and Jail Road on Sunday. During the visit, he reviewed school buildings, classrooms, infrastructure and existing educational facilities, according to officials quoted in the report.
The minister asked the civic body to categorise all closed municipal schools based on the repairs and upgrades required to reopen them. Schools needing urgent repairs are to be taken up on priority. Before reopening, the facilities must have safe buildings, clean premises, functional classrooms and basic amenities, Bhuse said.
The direction places the condition of municipal school buildings at the centre of Nashik’s effort to restore public-school enrolment. However, Bhuse also cautioned that infrastructure improvements alone would not be enough to bring students back. “Parents will be more inclined to choose municipal schools if they offer a safe, welcoming and quality educational atmosphere,” he said.
The NMC has also been asked to prepare a concrete action plan for improving enrolment in schools that are already operating. The plan is expected to cover educational facilities, infrastructure and the creation of a student-friendly learning environment. The report did not specify the number of closed schools, the cost of the pending repairs or the enrolment target proposed by the civic administration.
Officials briefed the minister on existing facilities and pending works during the inspection. Bhuse directed the civic administration to complete the required improvements within a stipulated timeframe, but no specific deadline was provided in the report.
The inspections were accompanied by mayor Himgauri Aher, deputy mayor Vilas Shinde, corporators Ajay Boraste and Pravin Tidame, and senior NMC officials. The civic body’s immediate task will be to complete the survey of closed schools, identify the works required at each location and prioritise facilities where repairs are considered urgent.
The direction also highlights the administrative challenge facing municipal schools: reopening buildings is only one part of restoring public confidence. The NMC must address both the physical condition of its schools and the quality of the learning environment identified by the minister as important to parents’ decisions. The next steps are the school survey, classification of repair needs and preparation of the enrolment and infrastructure action plans.
