Zilla parishad to probe student dip

The Education Department of the Pune Zilla Parishad has initiated a probe to ascertain causes behind the fall in number of students in ZP-run primary schools.

The Education Department of the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) has initiated a probe to ascertain causes behind the fall in number of students in ZP-run primary schools. On February 1,Newsline had reported that the number of students in ZP-run primary schools had declined by about 10,000 in a year, from 2,66,372 in 2010-11,to 2,56,347 in 2011-12.

While educationists blamed poor quality of education in ZP schools,as compared to private schools,and the emergence of numerous private schools in interior areas of the district,ZP education officer Dattatraya Shendkar had linked the decline to a fall in birth rate in recent years

Now,it seems that the ZP authorities have come to terms with the gravity of the issue. We are conducting an inquiry to ascertain reasons leading to the decline in number of students. Of late,there has been an increase in emergence of private institutions at the taluka level and in the suburbs. The number of schools run by municipal councils is increasing. This could be a major reason for the decline in numbers in ZP schools, said Anil Kavade,CEO,Pune ZP,and added that officers at the taluka level will conduct the probe in their talukas to determine reasons so that areas with the most notable decrease can be identified.

Following the inquiry we will undertake corrective programme to improve the situation, said Kavade.

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