Pune: PMC Clears Proposal To Continue Akanksha Foundation’s Management of FIve Municipal Schools
Pune: PMC Clears Proposal To Continue Akanksha Foundation's Management of FIve Municipal Schools
Pune, June 17, 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a proposal to continue funding the Akanksha Foundation for operating five municipal schools for the next three years. The decision was passed by the BJP-led ruling group despite opposition from Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Under the proposal, the civic body will provide ₹25,000 per student annually towards salaries of teachers and other staff members. The five English-medium schools currently managed by the foundation cater to nearly 4,500 students.
The proposal was approved through voting, with 11 members supporting it and four opposing it during the Standing Committee meeting.
The Akanksha Foundation has been associated with PMC schools since 2007 and currently manages K.C. Thackeray Vidya Niketan in Somwar Peth, Savitribai Phule School in Bhawani Peth, Late Anantrao Pawar School in Bopodi, Matoshree School in Yerawada and Pujya Kasturba Gandhi School in Koregaon Park.
Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale said a committee headed by the Mayor would be constituted to study the model implemented in these schools. The committee will conduct a detailed audit and assess whether similar practices can be adopted in other municipal schools to improve the quality of education.
The decision faced strong opposition from Congress members, who termed the move a step towards privatization of municipal education. Standing Committee member Prashant Jagtap said the Congress opposed the proposal, alleging that the administration and ruling party were planning to spend nearly ₹108 crore on the initiative.
Jagtap, along with NCP members Suhas Tingre, Amol Balwadkar and Vaishali Bankar, argued that while they support the goal of providing quality education to all students, they oppose handing over municipal schools to private organizations.
The proposal marked the first instance in the past five months, since the reconstitution of the Standing Committee, where a matter was decided through voting due to sharp differences between ruling and opposition members.
The approval is expected to continue the existing partnership between PMC and the Akanksha Foundation, while also reigniting the debate over the role of private organizations in managing public education institutions.
