India, April 18 -- The civic education department has published a list of 164 unauthorised schools, urging parents to steer clear of these informal institutions and learning centres, most of them in low-income neighbourhoods. Most of these schools have approval for Classes 5 to 10 but not for primary sections, while some don't have approval at all. More than 80,000 students are enrolled in them.

In a public notice issued on Friday, BMC education officer Sujata Khare said parents should not patronise unrecognised schools. Instead, they must enrol their children in recognised schools only, either municipal or private, in their respective neighbourhoods.

The BMC has been grappling with the issue of unauthorised schools for a few years now....