MM : BMC puts its good hands to better use : Oct 3, 2007
BMC puts its good hands to better use
Award-winning civic teachers will be roped in to revamp the BMC-run schools
and suggest ways to improve the quality of teaching
SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
To improve the quality of teaching in its schools, the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation has decided to rope in its own award-winning teachers.
The BMC has set up six committees, comprising state- and national-level
award-winning teachers, to study the education system, infrastructure,
increasing student dropout rate and curriculum at its schools.
The committees are expected to submit their report in two months with
suggestions, which will be implemented from the next academic year.
This year, 62 BMC teachers received various awards including eight
President’s Awards, four state government awards and 50 mayoral honours. The
first time so many teachers from civic schools have been honoured. “It is a
matter of pride and honour for us. We want to use their talent to revamp the
present education system,” said S S Shinde, deputy municipal commissioner
(education).
There are around 1,200 BMC-run schools across the metropolis where five
lakh students study. Due to increasing dropouts and fall in enrolments,
about 71 primary schools have been closed down since 2001. The schools
include 38 in the island city, 12 in the western suburbs and 21 in the
eastern suburbs. Of these, 26 were Marathi-medium and 18 Gujarati medium
schools.
Each committee has been given a different task. Their scope of study
includes decreasing the dropout rate, suggesting ways to improve the
teaching infrastructure, curriculum, uniform among others.
Lalita Gulati, a national award-winning teacher from Chembur said the
survey of civic schools, besides interviews of students and teachers would
be taken up as part of their study. “The administration and the quality of
education aspect will be considered. Since most students are attracted to
private schools, we will suggest ways to bring more children to our
schools,” Gulati said.
Hemlata Barwar, a President’s Award winner for teaching, said, “Most
school buildings are old and dilapidated. They need to be repaired first.
Parents are worried about the safety of the buildings and do not want to put
their children at risk. We have got quality teachers compared to private
schools, but students’ response is not overwhelming. We need to work on
parents’ faith in our schools.”
Abbasaheb Jadhav, deputy education officer, said, “These award-winning
teachers have been serving the BMC school for long, so they are very much
aware about the civic school infrastructure and its style of functioning.
That will help in preparing the report,” Jadhav said.
Hemlata Barwar, who has won the President’s Award for teaching, says one of
the committees will look into the dilapidated state of BMC’s schools
Publication:Mumbai Mirror; Date:Oct 3, 2007; Section:City; Page Number:4