BMC schools rope in NGOs to make education innovative

Teachers of Mumbai Public School (MPS) are working with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to improve teaching and learning method. Members of Teach For India, an NGO, are helping teachers of civic-run schools to increase focus on English language.

Teachers of MPS schools managed by the BMC revealed they want to improvise on classroom teaching methods. These NGOs are helping the schools to try innovative methods like explaining concepts using live models, outdoor learning, workshops and field world assignments for students from Class I to VIII.

The civic education department claimed they want to rope in NGOs where education has a different approach. Mahesh Palkar, BMC Education Officer, told The Free Press Journal, “Members of these NGOs are incorporating creative ways of teaching basic simple concepts. Our teachers are learning these concepts and trying to teach the state board syllabus in an interesting way.” Experiments of Science are conducted live, wherein students are asked to perform them in the laboratory to see the results, instead of explaining it through books. While concepts of mathematics like Pythagoras theorem or Algebra are taught using stencils or board games. In addition, use of English language is emphasised by explaining terms of Grammar and vocabulary.

Members of NGOs stated they want to improve the education scenario in BMC schools. Niranjan Shetty, a social worker said, “Parents and students always complain of the old rugged methods of teaching imparted in BMC schools. We want to change this mind set by incorporating innovative ways to teach the same syllabus. Teachers need to constantly update themselves with new ways of explaining lessons to students in order to make it more appealing and interesting."