Unaided Mumbai govt schools in bad shape
But in Mumbai’s government schools where teachers are in severe shortage teachers have given multi-tasking an entirely new meaning.
Just before the NDTV crew began shooting there was some hurried activity at the Chembur Naka Municipal School to ensure that they get the right picture.
But the crew broke away from the guided tour and found a few girls sitting in the playground. This was because their teacher hadn’t showed up.
NDTV: Are there enough teachers?
Student: We have only one teacher.
NDTV: For how many classes?
Student: One teacher for three classes. For Classes I, II and III. Classes III, IV and V are taught by one teacher. Another teacher takes classes for V, VI and VII.
NDTV: You have very few teachers?
Student: One lady teacher and two male teachers.
NDTV: Is that a problem?
Student: It’s not good for our studies.
The girls told the crew this isn’t unusual. Teachers don’t show up, which is why those who do have to multi-task!
Jostling for space
The NDTV crew then went to another school nearby, the Sahakar Nagar Municipal School. Cupboards and students in the class there were jostling for space.
This was an English medium school. English is in big demand. Right now, there are 746 students but only 10 teachers juggling all classes.
Since there is not enough space to accommodate all students there is a double shift of all classes.
The crew couldn’t talk to students or teachers. But what they saw was enough.
To tackle these and other problems of civic schools authorities have just reorganised the supervisory structure in BMC schools.
There is to be one supervisor for all academic and infrastructure problems of one school unlike two supervisors earlier.
”Earlier it was that for academic there was one person, and for buildings and infrastructure there was one. From the same department, but different people.
“So we said this can’t serve. That’s what created the problem. We have now combined it. Now that one person can’t shirk responsibility,” said S S Shinde, DMC, Education.
Different picture
Now contrast this to government schools that have been adopted by corporates or NGOs, like the Pali Chimbai Municipal School in Bandra adopted nearly five years ago by an NGO.
This school was to be shut down by the civic body because of lack of attendance and a crumbling building.
”We wanted to change the atmosphere. So we got the help of a corporate to clean up and fix our drains and toilets and drinking-water fountains.
“We wanted to give the children a good clean atmosphere and make them feel welcome,” said Dilbur Parakh, Founder, NGO, ASEEMA.
There are at least 325 BMC schools that have been adopted by NGOs and corporates in Mumbai. But that’s only a fourth of the total number of schools.
Municipal schools like Pali Chimbai are few and far in between but they hold hope that if there is more public and private partnership civic schools need not be schools of last resort.