The BMC has decided to shut down its only International Baccalaureate (IB) school in Vile Parle and shift it to the CBSE curriculum, asking parents to sign consent forms acknowledging the change.
The decision has shocked many parents, especially those who withdrew their children from private schools to enrol them in the civic-run institution because it offered an internationally recognised curriculum close to home at a far lower cost. Several parents told Mumbai Mirror they were not consulted before the decision was taken. They fear the abrupt shift will disrupt their children’s education and say they are exploring legal options.
Sandip Ambekar, whose son studies at the school, said the announcement came during a meeting that parents believed was related to ongoing examinations.
“I live in Vile Parle. During the pandemic we were stuck in our native place. When we returned to Mumbai, we learnt that a civic-run IB school had opened near our home and I enrolled my son there in 2022,” he said. “There were some issues over the years, but as long as the authorities assured us things would improve, we continued.”
Ambekar said about 180 parents attended Thursday’s meeting, which was attended by officials from the K East ward, the school administration and teachers.
“They told us they were facing issues with continuing the IB curriculum and were considering shifting to ICSE or CBSE. Some parents said they would prefer ICSE. But it seems the decision was already made because the consent forms we received say we agree to switch to CBSE. It all feels pre-decided,” he said.
Another parent, Rajan Shukla, alleged that parents were effectively being forced to sign the forms.
“There have been several issues at the school and we have repeatedly complained to the BMC. The school was promoted as an IB institution, but the standards have been poor. Now they say they do not have enough trained staff to run the IB curriculum,” he said.
“They have told parents that if we do not sign the consent letters, the school will be shut down. How can they threaten something like that?” Shukla added.
Parents also questioned why the civic body introduced an international curriculum if it did not have the resources to sustain it.
Ishwar Shekle, another parent, said standards declined after the school’s first year.
“When the school started, I enrolled my daughter in Class I. Initially everything looked promising. But within a year it became clear that standards were not being maintained. There were too few teachers, no CCTV cameras, and other infrastructure issues. Now they say they cannot afford the IB curriculum,” Shekle said.
“If the government did not have the funds to run the IB programme, why start it in the first place? Nearly 200 students will now face uncertainty,” he added.
Parents have previously raised concerns about the lack of teachers, the absence of a principal and inadequate facilities such as CCTV cameras and water purifiers at the civic-run Mumbai Public School (IB) in Vile Parle East.
They also pointed out that the IB affiliation on the school’s signboard has been covered with duct tape since 2024, raising doubts about the school’s affiliation status. The issue had already created uncertainty among parents, as IB affiliation was a key factor in admissions.
BMC officials had earlier told parents that the affiliation could not be displayed on the signboard until the school received the official letter.
Some families have begun discussing legal options if the decision goes ahead.
One parent, requesting anonymity, said parents may approach the court citing the constitutional guarantee of quality education.
“Article 21A, the Right to Education, is not just about access but also about the quality of education, as the Supreme Court has observed. We will first approach the administration and the BMC to understand their plan,” the parent said.
“If our concerns are ignored and we are forced to sign consent forms under the threat of closure, we will move the high court to protect our fundamental rights,” the parent added.
The IB school was launched as part of the BMC’s push to modernise civic education and attract more students to municipal schools.
To reduce dropouts and encourage enrolment, the BMC Education Department began introducing non-state board curricula in civic schools, starting with the CBSE board in 10 schools in the 2020–21 academic year.
The initiative began in 2021 and has since expanded. As of 2026, the BMC runs 22 non-state board schools – including 19 CBSE schools, one ICSE school, one IGCSE school awaiting affiliation and one IB school, which is also awaiting affiliation.
For many parents, the proposed closure of the IB programme raises a broader concern: Whether the civic body can sustain the ambitious education reforms it once promised.
Rashmi Desai, a senior teacher at the school, told Mumbai Mirror that the proposal is under process.
“Yes, we have given consent forms to parents and asked them to sign and submit them by Monday. Once we receive the consent, the school will shift to the CBSE curriculum,” she said.
Asked why the school plans to discontinue the IB board, Desai said: “There are several technical issues related to affiliation, and therefore it has been proposed to move to the CBSE curriculum.”
When contacted, Prachi Jambhekar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Education), said she was unaware of the issue.
“No parent has approached us. I am not aware of this,” she said.
