Mumbai: This Ghatkopar institute is a ghost school

Garodia International School affiliated with IGCSE Board in GhatkoparAround 300 students of a Ghatkopar school face an uncertain future Their alma mater Garodia International School affiliated with the IGCSE Board doesnt have the mandatory unified district information system for education UDISE number or a noobjection certificate from the government to function These came to light on Tuesday when 24 parents approached Pant Nagar police station in Ghatkopar to file a complaintThe UDISE issued by the state department of education is a database of information on all schools in India A code is generated for every registered school to allow it to function Registration with it was made mandatory for all schools in 2012 Schools also need an NOC from the state governmentThe 24 parents who are demanding action against school director Nishant Garodia for cheating said they found out that the school doesnt have a UDISE number after the school proposed a 200 per cent hike in fee two months ago on the grounds of newer and improved amenitiesCaught by chanceThe school didnt mention the UDISE number at the PTA parentteacher association meeting then When we checked with a PTA member from the schools ICSE board we found that the ICSE division has a UDISE number said Biju Nambiar a PTA member of the schoolRajesh Shah who was among the 24 parents said some parents thereafter approached the education department to confirm their worst fears They found that the school was not legal We also suspect that it doesnt have the requisite NOC We filed an RTI application to seek information on this a week agoParents also pointed out that schools PTA which approved any hike in fee was formed only last yearAll in place SchoolSchool director Nishant Garodia however claimed that his school has all the relevant documents We have all the documents including the NOC In October last year we applied for the UDISE number but have not received it yet The education inspector has assured us that we would soon receive it He admitted that the schools PTA was formed only last year but claimed that an unofficial meeting with parents used to be convened every month to discuss curricula and fee structureAnil Sable education inspector from north zone however said the school hasnt renewed its NOC since 2006Why approach us CopsMeanwhile the Pant Nagar police said they arent the right authorities to intervene in the matter Parents approached us to register a case under section 420 cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property of the IPC Although we accepted their complaint and will investigate the case parents should have approached the education department instead said Praful Phadke senior inspector from the police stationWill the absence of a UDISE number affect admissions of students who clear Std X from the school No says an official from the education department The UDISE number is like an identity proof which helps the government keep track of a school in terms of student and faculty strength and the facilities it provides The lack of a UDISE number will not effect the admission of a student in a different school The school which has been functioning since 2004 has a student strength of around 300