IE : BMC can't find teachers for its English-medium schools : Aug 14, 2007

PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION - BMC can't find teachers for its English-medium
schools
 NGOs, primary teachers running 45 of the proposed 84 schools; over 10,000
seats available, but only 2,000 children have joined so far
 SHWETA DESAI
AUGUST 13

F ROM neat classrooms painted in colourful shades to bright yellow desks,
newly-designed uniforms, stationery and school bags, the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) has everything to run its 84 English-medium
preprimary schools in the city. Except qualified teachers.
The civic body is struggling to find eligible candidates with a diploma in
Montessori education.

"We don't want non-qualified teachers. Teaching at the pre-primary level is
very sensitive and needs to be handled with care so we want right
candidates," said deputy municipal commissioner (Education) S S Shinde.
Of the 45 English-medium preprimary schools operational so far, 13 are being
run by NGOs while primary school teachers are handling the remaining. Also,
just a little over 2,000 tiny tots have enrolled against the total capacity
of 10,020 students-40 each in each section of junior KG, senior KG and class
I.
For the 168 posts of teachers for junior and senior KG, the civic
administration received 174 applications. Of them, only 45 candidates were
qualified to teach tiny tots. Now, 30 of them have accepted the BMC's offer.
"Once the appointment formalities are over, 30 preprimary schools will see
full-fledged classes," said chief officer of the public school project
Shrikrishna Bangnikar.

For class I, BMC requires 84 teachers with either a BEd or a DEd. Of the 70
people who applied, 50 were eligible and will be appointed soon. "The
selected candidates will be appointed at schools where a large number of
students have enrolled," he added.

But since the overall response hasn't been overwhelming, the BMC is looking
to simplify the teachers' recruitment process. "If a candidate is less than
33 years old, has completed SSC in English and holds a Montessori diploma
from a government-recognised institute, he/she will be recruited," Shinde
said.

The BMC has also increased teachers' salaries in English medium pre-primary
schools from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 - they are required to work for not more
than five hours in a day.

Shinde said this is the first time the BMC is opening so many schools
together. "We are looking for step-by-step upgradation and popularity of
these pre-primary schools. They will become successful gradually," he hoped.
The pre-primary project is facing another hurdle-there is no fixed pattern
of teaching or curriculum.

The civic administration has appointed a committee comprising members from
NGOs, Indian Association of Pre-School Education and civic officials to
design the curriculum and chose a teaching methodology for the children.

Publication : IE; Section : MN; Pg : 1; Date : 14/8/07
URL :
http://70.86.150.130/indianexpress/ArticleText.aspx?article=14_08_2007_521_001