Mumbai: The Maharashtra Self-Financed Schools (Establishment and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026 will now permit national trusts to establish self-financed schools in Maharashtra, whereas earlier only state-registered bodies were allowed. Shutting down schools abruptly, without a minimum 18-month notice, will attract stricter penalties and the fines have been doubled to safeguard students from academic disruption, announced school education minister Dada Bhuse on Tuesday. The amendment bill was passed in the state assembly with a majority.According to the amendment, self-financed schools which are established or upgraded under this Act, and shut or discontinue without notice will be punished with a fine not less than Rs 10 lakh, which may extend to Rs 20 lakh. Earlier, the fine was Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.Bhuse stated the law aims to improve regulation, expand access and ensure better infrastructure for students. During a debate on the Bill, he said that the changes were largely corrective and intended to update provisions that dated back to 2000, 2002 and 2012.He pointed out that provisions are also being introduced to enable schools, already running Classes 11 and 12, to seek permission to start lower classes from Class 1 to 10.Stressing student welfare, Bhuse said permission for expansion of classes would now be linked to the availability of essential infrastructure such as toilets, libraries, laboratories, and playgrounds in proportion to student strength. Speaking about teacher availability, Bhuse said recruitment through the “Pavitra Portal” has ensured transparency and quality, and assured the House vacant posts across districts would be filled. Retired teachers could be appointed temporarily where required, he said. Bhuse further noted the post of commissioner, created in 2014, did not exist when the earlier law had been framed, and is now being formally incorporated into the legislation.The minister also addressed concerns regarding school fees, saying education cannot be treated purely as a business and fee structures are regulated through parent-teacher committees under existing laws.Bhuse clarified while self-financed schools don’t have direct provisions for reservations, admissions under the Right to Education Act ensure 25% seats for economically weaker sections. He said govt is also working to strengthen public schools by improving facilities and quality of education.Opposing the bill, Congress MLA Nitin Raut said with no reservation in private institutions for SC and ST communities, it would lead to grave injustice. Denying reservations would go against the spirit of the Constitution, he said, and questioned how the govt could justify excluding backward classes from reservations merely because the schools are self-financed. (With agencies)
