Mumbai’s municipal school system is facing a deeper crisis than enrolment numbers suggest—the real challenge lies in retaining students through the full education cycle.
A recent report by the Praja Foundation reveals that less than half of students enrolled in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools complete their schooling till Class 10, pointing to a significant dropout issue within the system.
The findings highlight that while students do enter the system in large numbers, many exit before reaching secondary levels. Out of every 100 students who began schooling in Class 1, only about 48 continue till Class 10, exposing gaps in continuity and long-term engagement.
Interestingly, enrolment trends tell a mixed story. While overall participation in BMC schools has stabilised and even improved in recent years, retention has not kept pace. This suggests that attracting students is no longer the main problem—keeping them enrolled is.
One key factor behind this shift is parental preference. Over the years, families—especially from lower-income backgrounds—have increasingly moved their children to private or aided schools in search of better quality education and English-medium instruction. This has led to a steady decline in regional language schools, even as English-medium municipal schools have seen growth.
Experts argue that the issue is not just infrastructure or funding. Despite substantial budget allocations and initiatives like digital classrooms and free facilities, concerns about learning outcomes and teaching quality continue to push students out of the system.
The report suggests that unless structural reforms are introduced—such as improved accountability, better teacher training, and stronger academic outcomes—the system may continue to lose students midway.
In essence, the data reframes the debate: the future of BMC schools will depend less on how many students enrol, and more on how many choose to stay.
