Nagpur: Even though schools have reopened in the city, there are many vernacular medium institutes which are finding it difficult to bring students all willing students back on campus. With limited seating in autos and school vans, it has become financially unviable for these grant-in-aid (granted) schools to provide free transportation to students. This free transport was one of the biggest incentive for securing admissions in their Marathi/Hindi medium schools, where enrolment has been declining every year.
Since the number of students enrolled has a direct impact on the number of teachers to be hired, every school in the last decade has been trying multiple methods to lure students. In schools, where enrolment dips below a certain level, teachers are marked as ‘excess’. They can then be transferred anywhere in the city, district or state in that order.
Since no teacher wants to be shunted to a far flung place, it’s a common practice to offer free transportation, school bags, shoes, water bottles, uniforms and books to students. Parents too agree as vehicles pick up their kids right from the slums and drop them back. Midday meals are an added bonus.
Principal of a Hindi medium school said, “All those students willing to come back need transportation like before. But earlier, six to seven kids would come in an auto, and more could be accommodated in vans. But plying those many students is not possible now due to Covid-19 restrictions. And hiring more vans to meet the demand is not financially viable for us.”
Another principal, whose Marathi medium school is off Kamptee Road, said, “These children come from such economically poor families that the impetus for pursuing academics is very low. So, the more they stay away from school, higher are the chances of them dropping out. Hence, we are genuinely concerned about how to bring all of them back to school.”
Dilip Bose, principal of a Hindi Medium School said he is looking for people willing to donate bicycles. “STD IX-XII students are old enough to ride a bicycle to school, but their financial condition is not good enough to purchase one. We would be glad if people donate old bicycles for such students. This way they can continue their education,” said Bose.