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50% schools in state have no one at the helm..........Priya Ramakrishnan A study conducted by the Delhi-based National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) reveals that nearly 50% schools in the state are functioning without a regular headmaster or principal. The survey conducted in September 2006 shows that out of 9,314 state board schools, only 51.51% have a principal or headmaster on regular basis. "A school which functions without a principal is like a ship without a captain," said Shubhada Vinekar, principal, Manik Vidya Mandir, Bandra. According to Vinekar, a headmaster fills the role of a guide and gives the school a vision. "How can a school work properly in the long term without someone at the helm? There can be no planning done and the school administration will suffer without a principal," she added. The survey, which also included private unaided and aided schools, revealed that only 32.90% schools with upper primary and higher secondary in the state have principals. According to the survey, even Gujarat fared better than Maharashtra. The study reveals that out of 4,971 schools, 84.54% have regular principals in our neighbouring state. "The figures were collected from various districts separately and then collated together. We have included all types of schools including private aided also. Our aim was to find out how many schools are functioning without any leadership," said Arun C Mehta, head, department of educational management information system, NUEPA. "The reason that such a huge number of schools don't have a headmaster or principal is solely is due the shortage of qualified and experienced personnel in rural areas of the state," said Arundhati Chavan, principal of a DEd school. Chavan added that a principal needs to be a post graduate with considerable teaching experience. A principal from a suburban school also said that the lack of infrastructure in rural schools was a major hurdle. "If we look in the interior regions of Maharashtra, most schools don't even have a chalk and blackboard. Most of them have no teachers. Cities such as Mumbai enjoy all the resources, but schools in villages hardly have any takers for such position." |
