The BMC has set aside Rs 4248 crore for education in 2026-27, increasing spending on student welfare, infrastructure and curriculum reforms for over 3 lakh civic school students, while also continuing awareness drives on child safety and substance abuse.
Students attend school on the first day of its reopening. Pic/Getty Images
“This budget focuses on the holistic development of students… creating AI labs and curriculum for civic-school students has long been a dream project,” said Education Committee chairperson Rajeshree Shirwadkar. She added that boosting enrolment in Marathi-medium schools remains a key focus.
What’s new this year?
Rs 25,000
Cash aid for top-performing civic school students
Std V-VIII
Eco-warrior climate curriculum rollout
Std IX
Added to educational tours
Citywide
Teacher training ahead of NEP rollout
Libraries
Upgrades + competitive exam books
Sports, music, and therapy
Fresh equipment for schools and Divyang students
Infrastructure push
55 schools
Astronomy labs already active
+40 labs
Planned next year
28,470 desks
44,938 chairs
Furniture procurement underway
53 schools
Repair work ongoing; 47 finishing by March
19 schools
Reconstruction/new buildings; 10 finishing by March
Civic school system in numbers
Students across BMC schools
3+ lakh
Primary schools
2.76 lakh students
7453 teachers
Secondary schools
34,311 students
1177 teachers
Special schools
19 schools
845 students
Other-board schools
21 schools (CBSE: 18, ICSE:1, IGCSE:1, IB:1)
13,316 students
Safety and awareness drives
>> Citywide campaigns
POCSO awareness programmes
>> Anti-drug initiatives
Ongoing student sensitisation drives
