MCD schools struggle to improve enrolment
CONCERN Civic bodies fail to arrest declining trend despite taking several positive measures
The enrolment rate at Delhi’s municipal schools has not improved despite the three civic bodies introducing a host of measures such as smart classes, school quality enhancement programmes and improvement in teacher-student ratio.
The rising rate of absenteeism has also made sure that the attendance in schools remain poor. Latest data shows that the civic bodies have failed to check the declining trend in the enrolment rate.
As per the reports released by three municipal corporations, enrolment rate for primary classes is down to -3.6% during 2017-18. The education department stated that the admissions take place till August 31 in MCD schools, so they come out with final figures by mid-September.
The enrolment rate in the corporation-run schools has been declining since 2012. In 2016-17, it was -4 %, -2 % in 2015-16 and -4% in 2014-15.
Some officials say that the decline may also be attributed to the fact that nowadays some students find seats in private schools under the EWS quota. “Another reason might be that now the Delhi government has started nursery and primary classes in its schools. Therefore, with the choice for poor students rising, the overall percentage of parents choosing civic body schools for their kids has gone down,” said a senior North Delhi Municipal Corporation official.
“Also, these schools provide education till senior secondary unlike the MCD schools. Hence, the student doesn’t have to change schools after finishing primary education (till Class 5),” said the official.
NGOs working in the field of education, however, do not entirely agree with the explana- tion.
Anjali Srivastava from Praja Foundation said, “The figures show that its’ high time that the MCD should close all schools as a parallel education system is being run by the Delhi government.”
“Unfortunately, despite spending crores of rupees on education, the results are demoralising. And this, when the infrastructure has improved,” she said.
NURSERY ADMISSIONS
The situation is worse in nursery classes run by the civic agencies. In schools under south civic body, the admission rate has seen a 50% decline compared to the previous year.
In 2016-17, 15,000 took admission to nursery classes, this year it is 7,500. In north corporation schools, the nursery admissions have come down from 24,663 in 2016-17 to 21,268 in 2016-17.
“We are aware of the fact that’s why the education department is targeting to increase the School Quality Enhancement Program (SQEP) programme to 100 schools by next year. So far, 29 schools are run by NGOs and students are provided academic assistance through music, drama, theatre, robotics and innovative methodology,” said Meeta Singh, additional commissioner, South DMC.