Schools now not allowed to use ‘International’ or ‘global’ in name unless they meet the eligibility criteria
Asking local education officers to scrutinise new proposals accordingly, the letter states that this review will include checking the school’s affiliating board, approved medium of instruction, and whether the institute runs other schools at national or international level.
The letter includes a list of 11 schools–including three from Thane district which is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)–that have applied for new or renewed approval in December 2025. (File Photo)
In a first-of-its-kind move, the Maharashtra school education department has directed that schools in the state will no longer be allowed to use terms such as ‘International’ or ‘global’ in their names unless they really meet the eligibility criteria required for these titles–having campuses abroad or offering international curriculum. The decision aims to prevent confusion among parents and the general public due to such misleading school names.
In a letter issued to local education officers earlier this week, the Joint Director of Secondary Education points out that the use of words like ‘International’ or ‘Global’ in school names is allowed only if the school has campuses abroad or is affiliated with an international board or curriculum. However, the letter highlights that the department has observed that several schools affiliated with the state board are using these words in their names, which is misleading.
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The letter further directs education officers to closely scrutinise the school names while examining new proposals for approvals or renewal, along with instructing to take appropriate action in case of existing schools with such names.
Flagging other misleading aspects, the letter states, “Some schools have English medium in their names, but their approval document shows that it was granted for a Marathi medium school. Further, the use of the word CBSE in the school name is not appropriate legally because it is the name of an examination board–Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)–established by the Central Government.”
Explaining the misleading aspect of the medium of a school, an official from the department said, “Many schools in the city are running on old approvals which were granted for a Marathi medium school but over the years they have started offering English medium. Whereas they should have had separate approval for the English medium school.”
According to the letter, the issue was discussed during a state-level meeting held on December 10, where officials noted that such misleading names can have adverse impact. It was then decided that schools using such words without eligibility should be instructed to change their names.
Asking local education officers to scrutinise new proposals accordingly, the letter states that this review will include checking the school’s affiliating board, approved medium of instruction, and whether the institute runs other schools at national or international level. If the school’s name is found misleading, the institution will be asked to change it and will be granted approval only after compliance.
The letter includes a list of 11 schools–including three from Thane district which is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)–that have applied for new or renewed approval in December 2025. Local education officers have been instructed to ask these institutions to reapply with corrected names.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting.
Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive:
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students.
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Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized.
Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families.
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