December 15, 2025: Education and language activists have raised fresh concerns over the condition of Marathi-medium school infrastructure in Mumbai, alleging that several school buildings are being razed without adequate safeguards for their reconstruction. Members of Marathi Abhyas Kendra, a cultural and language advocacy group, convened a public session in Dadar on Sunday to highlight what they described as the steady erosion of physical and institutional support for Marathi schools across the city.
The group announced plans to escalate the issue through a protest scheduled for Thursday, December 18, outside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, followed by a march to Azad Maidan. The protest aims to draw attention to the future use of school land and the transparency of civic processes related to school redevelopment.
“We want to ensure that school land is used solely for rebuilding school structures and educational purposes. A letter detailing our demands will also be sent to the BMC commissioner,” said Dr Deepak Pawar, language activist and head of Marathi Abhyas Kendra. He also emphasised the need for greater public access to information, demanding that structural audit reports of schools be published on the civic body’s website in Marathi.
During the session, speakers pointed to multiple challenges affecting Marathi schools, including ageing infrastructure and falling enrolment numbers. Seven schools located in Mahim, Lower Parel, Vikhroli, Mankhurd, Bhandup, Govandi, and Mumbra were cited as examples where these issues are particularly evident.
Panellists noted that several Marathi schools currently function from commercial or residential buildings, limiting their ability to provide a conducive learning environment. Concerns were also raised over low attendance in civic-run anganwadis, staff shortages, and the growing preference among Marathi-speaking parents for English-medium education.
Activists further highlighted persistent misconceptions about academic and career opportunities available through Marathi-medium schooling, arguing that these perceptions are accelerating the decline of enrolment. Collectively, the speakers stressed that without focused policy intervention, transparent audits, and dedicated infrastructure investment, Marathi schools risk further marginalisation within Mumbai’s education landscape.
