AMC schools plan to rope in private partners to woo more students

Recently,during a meeting with Principal Secretary (primary education) Sangeeta Singh,the proposal of inviting private partners was floated by the Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra. “We have suggested roping in private companies or partners for running municipal schools. A feasibility where private partners can put to use their expertise while using our infrastructure. The suggestion was appreciated. Soon,the feasibility plan will be prepared and submitted to the education department,” Mohapatra said.

Further adding on the problem of declining student enrolments in municipal schools,he said,“It is hard to understand the reasons why despite providing all facilities residents do not prefer to send their children to municipal schools. Not only students are financially assisted in municipal schools but also the quality of staff is one of the best. As against private schools where there is no check on the quality of staff,it is not easy to get into a municipal school without desired qualification and experience.”

It is to be noted that not only the students’ strength has dwindled in the past few years,but also the number of municipal schools in the city. As the schools suffered with less student strength,the most affected ones were clubbed together into one. From a total of 541 municipal schools in the city,the number declined to 464 in 2011-12.

At present,the number is being evaluated as there has been a major change in schools with the addition of Class VIII into primary section and schools divided as upper primary and lower primary.

“It was realised that it would be more feasible to manage one school rather than two independent schools with students less than the school capacity. For instance,a school with around 2,000 students was earlier divided into different independent schools. When the ratio fell to 200 each,these were again clubbed into one. Thus,the number of municipal schools fell in the recent years,” Municipal School Board chairperson Jagdish Bhavsar said.

Keeping its fingers crossed,apart from the state wide enrolment drives,the municipal schools are conducting admissions which will continue till August 21. The two-month admission process started on June 11.