BMC students to get 27 items for free on first day of school

Civic body to give students bus passes, Class VIII kids to finally get Tabs after 1-yr wait

This year, students studying in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools will receive 27 school items for free on the first day of school. Along with these 27 school items, including stationery and school uniforms, students will be given a bus pass by the civic education department.

By mid-June, the academic year will begin and BMC aims to improve the quality of education with a good start. Every year, 27 items including stationery, school bags, uniforms, water bottles, raincoats and other items are given for free to students studying in civicrun schools. But often some students have to wait for months for some items.

This year, the education department of BMC has assured it will provide all 27 items on the first day of school. In addition, students will be given a bus pass to help them commute from their residence to the school.

BMC Education Committee Chairman Mangesh Satamkar told The Free Press Journal, "We will provide a bus pass so that students can travel for free from their residence and attend school everyday. Also, all the 27 items will be handed over to students on the first day when school begins."

Students of Class 8 will be provided tablets to study their syllabus. Students have been waiting for these Tabs since one year as not a single student of Class 8 was given a Tab last year. Satamkar said, "We have already got the Tabs in our possession and we will provide it to all students of Class 8 this year. Last year, there was an issue as the new curriculum had to be installed in the memory card of the Tabs which delayed the process. But now we have resolved it and students can use these Tabs for learning through an advanced medium of technology."

Parents claimed the BMC should fulfil their promise if they intend on making one. Ranjana Shirodkar, a parent said, "Last year the BMC made repeated promises to provide these Tabs and students were waiting in anticipation. If BMC cannot fulfil their promises then they should not give false hopes to students. Also, these 27 items play an important role and are used to the maximum by students as many are from families with weak financial backgrounds."

Teachers are being trained to improve methods of learning, teaching and communicating with students to build a conducive environment in schools. Anil Kumar, a teacher said, "We are trying our best to improve the quality of teaching as there have been several workshops and training sessions for teachers during summer vacations."