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About 1,500 students in the English-medium section of a Colaba municipal school have been shifted to virtual classes, following a BMC infrastructure team's ruling that two school buildings are structurally unsafe. While approximately 1,300 students from other language sections were relocated to nearby schools, English-medium students remain online due to lack of space. Parents and activists are urging phased demolition and interim solutions. Authorities continue exploring options, including rentals, amid mounting pressure to restore classrooms.
A civic-run school in Colaba, housing roughly 2,800 pupils across Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Urdu and English sections, was declared unsafe by the BMC's School Infrastructure Cell, which ordered the demolition of both campus buildings. Since then, students from non-English-medium sections were transferred to nearby municipal schools, but the English-medium group about 1,500 children couldn't be accommodated elsewhere and were shifted to online classes about two weeks ago. Advertisement
Notably, one building had previously been rated C2 serviceable with major repairs allowing offline classes to resume briefly in June. Yet, a sudden reclassification to fully unsafe brought both buildings under closure by mid-July. Parents contend that one structure could be repaired safely, and have demanded staggered demolition rather than shutting the entire campus.
Community representatives point out conflicting assessments: a teachers' union spokesperson noted that earlier guidance permitted continued use of one building, while campus officials later ordered its evacuation as well. Parents say many open grounds in the area remain unused and urge BMC to use them for temporary classrooms.
Efforts are ongoing to locate alternate venues. Since January this year, educators and local officials have been scouting possibilities. While around 830 students from non-English sections were relocated to the Colaba Market school, principals report overcrowding issues. Some older English-medium students were moved to Bora Bazaar Municipal School, but many parents objected due to poor conditions there.
Education officials, including the deputy municipal commissioner, say they're looking into rental spaces as no welfare or amenity premises are available. They remain hopeful that more space can be secured soon to restore classroom learning.
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