MUMBAI, Feb. 21 -- The state government's revised teacher approval policy has sparked alarm among education activists and teachers' representatives, who warn that nearly 90 government-run secondary schools in Mumbai and around 620 across Maharashtra may not receive even a single sanctioned teacher post under the new system. They fear the move could eventually push several smaller schools towards closure. Under the earlier policy, teacher posts were sanctioned based on a school's total student strength. The norm allowed one teacher for every 20 students. This meant that if a school had 40 students across different classes, it was eligible for at least two teachers, irrespective of how the students were distributed across standards. (SEE BOX) However, the new rules issued by the education department change the basis of calculation. Teacher approvals will now be granted according to the number of students in each individual standard, not the total enrolment of the school. A newly introduced software system will determine approvals based on student data recorded as of September 30 each academic year. Teachers' organisations say the revised system will severely affect smaller and Marathi-medium schools. They point out that if a school runs classes from Standard 1 to 12 but does not have at least 20 students in each standard, it will not qualify for a sanctioned teacher for that class. In such cases, even if the total student strength is substantial, the school may not be eligible for any approved posts. A government school in Matunga illustrates the concern. The school has 45 students across Standards 6 to 10 and is currently managed by two teachers. Under the earlier rule, the total enrolment would have entitled it to at least two sanctioned posts. Under the new standard-wise calculation, since no individual class has 20 students, the school may not receive even a single sanctioned teacher. Shivnath Darade, executive member, Shikshak Parishad, said that of the 90 affected schools in Mumbai, around 53 are Marathi-medium institutions, adding that many of which already face declining enrolment and warned that such measures could indirectly hasten closures. NG Ganar, Member of the Legislative Council from the teachers' constituency in Nagpur, has also written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the education minister Dadaji Bhuse opposing the change. Education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh was unavailable for comment despite attempts to contact him....