Mumbai: Survey identifies 885 children who are out of school, 161 enrolled in nearby schools

This year it was conducted from July 1 to 15, 2025 which was followed by a process of enrolling out-of-schoolchildren to nearby civic schools.

By: Express News Service

August 22, 2025 09:50 PM IST

Of the 161 children who are immediately brought back into the school system, 115 had never attended school, and 46 were enrolled last year but rarely attended the school. (Representative Image)

A recent survey conducted by the education department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has identified 885 children in Mumbai who are currently out of school. Of these, 161 children—who still reside in the city—have now been enrolled in nearby civic schools. The remaining students have migrated to other parts of the state or country.

This survey of out-of-schoolchildren is an annual process to ensure that children remain in schools. This year it was conducted from July 1 to 15, 2025 which was followed by a process of enrolling out-of-schoolchildren to nearby civic schools.

The 885 out-of-school students include both current residents of Mumbai and those who have relocated. According to the BMC’s education department, children still living in Mumbai are enrolled immediately, while efforts are made to contact the parents of those who have moved to encourage them to admit their children to schools in their new locations.

Of the 161 children who are immediately brought back into the school system, 115 had never attended school, and 46 were enrolled last year but rarely attended the school. This includes two children with special needs.

Among the 724 children classified as out-of-school due to migration, 425 have moved to other districts, and 299 to other states. “These children no longer appear in local school records because they’ve relocated. They may have joined schools elsewhere. We try to reach their parents using the last available contact details to confirm if their schooling continues,” said a department official.

In addition to the BMC’s survey, the office of the Deputy Director of Education in Mumbai conducted a separate survey focusing on secondary schools. This identified 277 out-of-school students: 67 from the South Zone, 153 from the West, and 57 from the North. “All students still residing in Mumbai have been enrolled in nearby schools. For those who have migrated, we obtain assurances from parents that the children will be enrolled in schools near their new residences,” the official added.

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