Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
NMMC to open night schools for underprivileged children
EDUCATION FOR ALL Pilot project will have Classes 9, 10 and will be held for 3 hours
NAVI MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the civic body has decided to start a few night schools for underprivileged children in its jurisdiction.
The education department of the NMMC recently announced that the application forms for the night schools are available in 17 civic schools.
Those students, who dropped out after Class 8 because of various problems, can attend the night classes.
“Several students from the city, especially those living in the slum areas, leave their education halfway as they have to earn to support their families. Therefore, to provide education to such children we have decided to run a few night schools in our area,” said AR Patnigire, deputy municipal commissioner (secondary education) of NMMC.
“Initially, we will run two classes — Class 9 and 10 as a pilot project. So those students who studied till Class 8 can apply for these classes,” he said.
When a s ke d h ow m a ny schools will be opened, Patnigire said, “We will need at least 30 students for each class. So depending on the number of application forms we receive from the students, we will decide the number of schools.”
Initially, the night schools will be only for boys and classes will be held for three (5.30pm-8.30 pm) hours a day. Most schools will be opened near the slum areas as number of school dropouts are more in such places.
“Turbhe is one of the huge slum areas in our jurisdiction. We may start night classes in one of the civic schools in the area. The transport facilities are not good at most places. We will have to ensure that students don’t have to travel much to attend classes. If everything goes well, the schools will start in 2016-2017 academic year,” he added.
According one survey conducted by NMMC last year, there are a total of 1,097 students who left school between classes 1 and 8.
However, no such survey has been conducted to understand the number of students who left school between class 9 and 10.
“Of these 1,097 students, 300 have already enrolled in different schools. Besides, some nongovernmental organisations are also teaching many of these children,” Patnigire said.