Nagpur: Students entering their classes from July 1 would notice a sea change in their classrooms as Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has transformed its schools. During the summer holidays, the civic officials overhauled the infrastructure to provide a new learning environment for students. The transformation of civic schools was carried out under Mission Navchetna where focus was to alter the classroom environment.
As part of the move, Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari focused on changing the drab and boring look of NMC run schools. One such initiative was to decorate the school walls with learning aid as part of Building As Learning Aid. For this work NMC tapped Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Funds. NMC runs 88 primary schools having a student strength of 12,984 and 28 middle schools wherein 5,189 are studying in various classes.
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Friday13 Dec. 2024
During a visit to schools, Dr Chaudhari was appalled at their condition. He held a discussion with officials of the Education Department, PWD and others inviting suggestions to instill new confidence among students. After discussion, the civic officials earmarked the task to alter the look of the schools so that the same is appealing to parents who would be enthused to admit their wards in these institutions.
In the year 2023, NMC had carried out a survey of its schools after they noticed a significant drop out of students. After the deliberation a three pronged approach was finalised to arrest the slide in enrolment. For the same Rs. 4.68 crore were provided by the District Planning Committee (DPC) to undertake a programme for transformation of civic schools. Schools with enrolment of 200 students, they are 23 in number, and at such institutions repairs were carried out to the buildings and beautification works were undertaken.
Also NMC plans to depute teachers for individual sports, music and to teach computers so that students can be taught the required skills. Also NMC has been offered services by BRICKS that will take care of sanitation staff at schools that lack one. The private workers will work in two shifts to ensure cleanliness in the schools. Similarly health check-up camps would be held periodically to keep a tab on children’s well being.
Dropout concern
Concerned over the high dropout rate among girls from economically backward groups, NMC has come up with a lucrative Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 yearly attendance allowance for needy girl students from Class 1 to 10, and a bicycle for girls in Class 8 to 12 in its schools.
Girls from Classes 1 to 10 would be entitled to Rs 3,000 allowance for 75% to 90% attendance, and they will get Rs 4,000 for 90% and above attendance.
A provision of Rs 2.50 crore has been made for attendance allowance, and Rs 12.40 lakh for bicycles. Another Rs 10 lakh has been reserved for bicycles to other needy students, a press statement said.
The initiative is part of ‘Mission Navchetna’ launched under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Chaudhary. The schools have undergone drastic changes to improve the overall learning and teaching experience.
