India, April 9 -- On Monday, the fifth floor of Mantralaya witnessed an unusual sight: thousands of postcards junked outside school education minister Deepak Kesarkar's office. The postcards had been sent by parents, teachers and students opposing the state's school adoption scheme, wherein private parties would be allowed to 'adopt' and take over the reins of government schools. But the minister's office, far from taking cognisance, had thrown the letters out.

The scheme, which was announced in September 2023, envisaged a model under which individuals, corporations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could adopt government schools. The initiative was taken up with a view to upgrading the infrastructure and amenities at these schoo...