Maharashtra Schools To Run Only 3 Days A Week? New Proposal Emerges Amid Fuel Crisis
Maharashtra Schools To Run Only 3 Days A Week? New Proposal Emerges Amid Fuel Crisis
School bus operators in Maharashtra have proposed a hybrid education model of three days of physical classes and two days of online learning to reduce fuel consumption and avoid burdening parents with higher transport fees.
As Maharashtra continues to face rising fuel prices and transportation challenges, a new proposal linked to the school education system has sparked widespread discussion among parents and schools. The School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) in Mumbai has suggested a major change in school operations to deal with the growing fuel crisis and increasing transport costs ahead of the new academic year.
According to the proposal, schools could adopt a hybrid model in which students attend physical classes only three days a week, while the remaining two days are conducted online. The association believes this system would significantly reduce the number of daily bus trips, helping save fuel and control operational expenses.
The proposal comes at a time when diesel and petrol prices, along with maintenance and transportation costs, have increased sharply. School bus operators say they are struggling with rising insurance premiums, staff salaries, vehicle maintenance costs, taxes and fuel expenses. They warned that if the situation continues, transport fees may eventually have to be increased.
However, the association has clarified that it does not want parents and students to face additional financial pressure. Instead of increasing school bus fees, the focus is currently on finding alternative solutions through timetable restructuring and transport planning.
SBOA Maharashtra President Anil Garg said many schools currently operate in multiple shifts, forcing buses to make several rounds every day. To tackle this issue, the association has also proposed a “single shift transportation” model under which schools would fix common pickup and drop timings.
According to the association, this would reduce unnecessary trips and make fuel management easier during the ongoing shortage and price rise.
“By having all schools fix a single pickup and drop time, the number of bus trips will be reduced and it will be easier to overcome fuel shortages,” the proposal stated.
The association has also appealed to the Maharashtra government for financial relief. It has requested fuel subsidies and concessions similar to those offered to airlines and other transport sectors during difficult periods. Bus operators argue that they transport lakhs of students safely every day and therefore require policy support to continue operations smoothly.
Meanwhile, the proposal has triggered mixed reactions among parents and education stakeholders. While some believe a hybrid model may reduce travel stress and fuel consumption, others are concerned about the impact of reduced classroom learning, especially after students already experienced extended online education during the pandemic years.
Parents are also worried about managing children at home during online class days, particularly in working households where both parents are employed.
