Pune: Recognition of 10 Sinhgad society schools cancelled over 18 months of unpaid teacher salaries

The education department in Pune has ordered the recognition of 10 schools run by the Sinhgad Technical Education Society to be cancelled. The reason is that teachers at these schools have not been paid for the past 18 months. After going unpaid, the teachers stopped teaching, which brought classes to a halt and affected the children's education.

The order was issued by Deputy Director of Education Machhindranath Kadam. It covers six secondary and four primary schools. The department said the cancellation followed the management's failure to clear the salary arrears despite repeated directions and warnings.

According to the order, salaries of both teachers and non-teaching staff at these schools have been pending for 18 months. Distressed by the delay, the teachers had stopped teaching until the arrears were paid. During the hearing, the department also took into account the adverse effect on the children.

The management had been directed to pay all arrears and regular salaries by June 29, 2026. It could not do so. The department then cancelled the recognition under Rules 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 of the Secondary School Code.

The six secondary schools that have lost recognition are: Sinhgad College of Arts, Commerce and Science at Narhe, Ambegaon and Kondhwa; Sinhgad Public School at Khusgaon; and RMD Springdale Secondary School at Warje and at Karvenagar-Erandwane.

The four primary schools are: Sinhgad Springdale School at Ambegaon, Sinhgad Springdale Public School at Wadgaon, Sinhgad City School at Kondhwa and RMD Sinhgad Springdale School at Warje.

At the hearing, the society cited a shortage of funds. It claimed the government had not released a large amount of reimbursement due under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. It also said the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission had raised its salary bill considerably, while parents were not paying full fees on time. The management said it would clear the teachers' arrears as soon as the pending RTE reimbursement was received.

The education department did not accept this explanation. It said salaries had been withheld for a long time and that no steps to improve the situation were taken even after repeated notices.

To ensure the children's studies are not disrupted, education officials have been directed to arrange for them to be moved gradually to recognised schools nearby. The cancellation orders will take effect from May 1, 2027, that is, from the 2027-28 academic year, so that the children can complete the current academic year.

The society has been given 30 days from receipt of the order to challenge the decision before the Director of Education.