The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is under fire for diverting school teachers to administrative and clerical duties despite a significant shortage of teaching staff in its municipal schools. Taking serious note of the issue, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has issued a directive to the BMC Education Department to take corrective action and submit a detailed report on the measures taken to address the situation.

It recently came to light that approximately 90 teachers, who are critically needed in classrooms owing to a shortage of teachers in civic schools, have been assigned for years to perform clerical tasks in the offices of the joint commissioners, education officers, and other administrative departments. This diversion of teaching staff has led to complaints from parents and concerns over the impact on students’ education.