Not a single student should study under leaking roofs in BMC schools: Edu panel

ORDER Committee directs civic admin to repair all BMC schools before monsoon

All Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)run schools across city should undergo necessary repairs and renovation work before the onset of monsoon as directed by the education committee. The committee asked the civic administration to complete the work of painting, plumbing, construction and repairs before the schools reopen in June.

The BMC currently runs 1,253 schools across the city of which over 70% of the schools are in the state that need repairs.

The poor condition of these schools in terms of cracks in ceilings, broken walls, lack of painting and feasible infrastructure are considered the major factors for less number of enrolments in BMC schools.

The education committee questioned the civic administration about increasing the number of dropouts and dwindling number of admissions in BMC schools.

Shubhada Gudekar, chairman of the education committee of BMC, said, “The BMC claims to have set an education budget of Rs 23.11 crore for 2017-18, but can they name at least 10 BMC schools that parents will prefer over private schools? The fact that our schools do not have appropriate infrastructure discourages parents to enrol their kids.”

Parents claimed the BMC schools should be appealing and approachable to citizens. Stella Wallace, a parent, said, “When I think of the state of BMC schools, I always feel that my child will not get the best of facilities in these schools. I would rather prefer spending a little money and admitting my child to a private school.”

The civic administration claimed of having provided facilities like virtual class, tabs, vocational training and sports coaching. But the committee mentioned that a large number of citizens were not aware about these facilities.

“The common people do not know that such facilities are provided in BMC schools. Notice boards should be installed outside every BMC school stating that admissions are open and should mention the list of facilities that are provided,” Gudekar said.

The committee directed the civic administration to complete the work of painting and repairs on a priority basis. Gudekar said, “Not a single student from any of the BMC schools should sit and study under leaking roofs. All the schools should be repaired before the monsoons.”

The committee questioned the civic admin about the increasing number of dropouts and falling number of admissions in BMC schools