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BMC schools under scanner Ex-Municipal Councellor wants 25 child per class norm initiated SAYLI UDAS THE SHODDY state of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools in the city is soon to be brought under the scanner. A resolution, in the form of a letter, stressing on an overhaul, will come up during the education committee meeting on Tuesday. Ex-Municipal Councillor and Chairman of the Mumbai Mahanagarpalika Shikshak Sena, KP Naik, has put in the letter addressed to the commissioner, requesting prescribed guidelines to fix the average number of students per class to 25. Currently each of the 1,118 schools has overcrowded classrooms with 80 students in each class and one teacher handling four classrooms at a time. However, representatives of the civic body claim short age of funds is the main cause for the neglected state of the schools. "Things will change in a year when we get funds," promises Mangesh Satamkar, speaking about the norm that was set by the State Department for Education to restrict 25 students per class in BMC schools. The resolution sent by Naik states that if the total number of students were fixed at 25, then it would be possible for teachers to pay better attention to each child. Which, in other words, would amount to allocating appropriate homework, develop each child's reading and writ ing skills and setting up proper methods of evaluation through the year by having unit tests. However, this ideal situation, which may be the need of the hour, does not seem feasible to the BMC's education department. "I do agree that classes are overcrowded, especially in areas like Malvani, Shivaji Nagar and Sion. But the proposal is not feasible as we do not have enough funds or space to support it," said Satamkar. He added saying that if they are to implement the 25 students per class norm, it would mean splitting students from each classroom into three groups. That would correlate to acquiring more space to accommodate them, additional staff and better infrastructure. "That cannot happen immediately. Till then, the present 4,74,037 students will need to study under the present conditions," he added. URL : http://70.86.150.130/indianexpress/artMailDisp.aspx?article=10_10_2006_523_0 01&typ=0&pub=320 |
