Maharashtra’s school education department is facing criticism from educators across the state over its ongoing initiative to geotag all schools and Anganwadi centres using the newly introduced Maha School GIS mobile application. The department aims to complete the drive by 30 April; however, the method of deployment has sparked concern among stakeholders.
Teachers have raised alarms regarding the requirement to download the Maha School GIS app through an Android Application Package (APK) file rather than via the official Google Play Store. Installing an APK file involves enabling the installation of apps from unknown sources, a move many believe compromises the security of their personal devices.
“Granting permission for unknown sources exposes our phones to potential security risks,” a teacher from Mumbai stated, expressing apprehension over the process.
Adding to the discontent, several educators have also questioned the necessity of the exercise, pointing out that infrastructure details had already been uploaded recently through the School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF). “It feels like a needless repetition of work we have already completed,” another teacher remarked.
Adding to these concerns, Mahendra Ganpule, former vice-president of the State Principals’ Association, suggested that the traditional system of reviewing school infrastructure could have been retained. “Earlier, GIS reviews were conducted once every three years through physical inspections by zonal officers, and that method could very well have continued,” he said, noting that the previous approach ensured thoroughness without burdening schools with additional digital procedures.
In response, state officials defended the initiative, highlighting that the geotagging drive is a key element of a broader strategy to modernise and digitise school infrastructure data. The programme is aligned with the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) project, launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aimed at leveraging geospatial technologies to strengthen educational planning.
The Maha School GIS application captures precise geographic coordinates of schools, supplemented by photographs and essential infrastructure data. All information collected is integrated into a centralised dashboard, which includes details such as the number of students and staff, available computing resources, and other amenities. The system is further connected to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), the national repository for educational statistics.
Officials maintain that this data will not only help in effective policymaking but will also serve parents seeking transparent and comprehensive information before admitting their children into schools.
Despite the state’s assurances, the concerns raised over security and administrative workload continue to spark debate, with many calling for the application to be made available through more secure, standardised channels.
