Maharashtra to conduct school-inspection to verify number of students

Updated on: Thursday, September 15, 2011

With the revelation that some schools showed bogus enrolment to pocket government grants, Maharashtra government has decided to conduct a simultaneous audit of the number of students in the schools across the state.

The cabinet, in the weekly meeting, discussed the issue. In recent inspection, 1.35 lakh bogus students were found on the rolls of schools in Nanded district.

Official sources said that effective monitoring could save as much Rs 3,000 crore a year.

Talking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan admitted that the issue was discussed, though not listed in the agenda.

"Chief Secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad visited Nanded to take stock of the situation. This issue is serious because government spends a lot on education. It was found that the number of students on the rolls is shown much more on paper than the actual number. Due to this, unnecessary expenditure is made on the payment of salaries, mid-day meal scheme, maintenance of ashram schools and hostels, etc," he said.

Chavan said he had directed the concerned department to put together teams to conduct survey of schools and the actual enrolment. "They will check the number of students on the rolls and whether it tallies with the actual number of students admitted," Chavan said, adding that the survey will be conducted on a single day across the state.

The survey will also help ascertain the actual status of hostels, ashram schools and aided schools. "Many schools do not have even the basic amenities," the Chief Minister admitted.

Chavan said that in Nanded, it was found that the number of students on the rolls was 20 per cent higher than the actual strength.

Maharashtra to conduct school-inspection to verify number of students

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