Mumbai: Primary, secondary sections to be extended to reduce dropout rate in BMC schools

Mumbai: In an attempt to increase enrolment and reduce drop out rate in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools, the education department has initiated new plans. The primary section will be extended from Class 4 till Class 5 while secondary section from Class 7 to Class 8.

This move has come so that students do not leave school mid way and continue till secondary section. Currently, students quit BMC schools after completion of primary section (Class 4) and opt for another state or private school. This has increased the drop out rate and reduced enrolment rate in civic-run schools.

By extending the sections students will not move to new schools. Shubhada Gudekar, Chairperson of BMC Education committee, said, “We will extend classes so that students can have a one stop solution in our schools.” In addition, parents complained about lack of facilities in these schools. Nitesh Diwan, a parent said, “Various facilities like benches, uniforms and meals are not appropriate in BMC schools. This discourages us to enrol our children.”

From this academic year, the BMC will provide monsoon boots, nutritional snacks and sports uniform for free to students. “These facilities will be provided along with the 27 objects that are given to students at the start of academic year,” Gudekar added.

In addition, BMC teachers will now be posted in schools near their vicinity. This has come to reduce travel stress of teachers. Kiran Dhule, a teacher said, “We waste a lot of time travelling to schools and cannot afford to reach late due to the biometric attendance system. If schools are nearby then it will help us.”