https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Clustering Schools for Better Education

Pune Zila Parishad under the National Education Policy 2020 is creating cluster schools in remote areas of the district ZP roped in with a foundation to build the school under Corporate Social Responsibility Maharashtra Education Commissioner, Suraj Mandhare IAS says that if the initiative works, it will set a model for others as well
Indian Masterminds Stories

Schools, schools everywhere but not many with enough students and teachers.  In Pune District, each village has over two schools. 2964 schools have less than 60 students in all 5 primary classes and are taught by only two teachers who more often than not, don’t turn up. 

The administration had only two options – either to close down the schools with poor attendance or let things continue as they were.

Pune Zila Parishad (ZP) however, came up with a very innovative idea to facilitate smooth education of children from remote areas of village Panshet, Velhe Taluka, Pune and surrounding places, Pune. It created cluster schools by combining two or more schools.  

CLUSTER SCHOOL

Speaking exclusively with Indian Masterminds, Education Commissioner of Maharashtra Mr Suraj Mandhare IAS, said, “Initially the policy was to shut down schools which are having very less attendance. But when I took over, I felt that it’s not the right decision to shut down all the schools.”

The issue was further discussed with the ministers and the department was asked to first go for integration. He said that the integration has to be done skilfully, otherwise some schools are so far away that if they integrate randomly then the students will find it difficult to travel daily.

The decision of Pune ZP to establish a cluster school in Panshet, a region with mountainous terrain with heavy rainfall, has been a courageous move that has taken nearly one and half years of persistent and determined efforts to earn the support of all stakeholders. 

Ayush Prasad IAS, CEO, ZP, Pune told Indian Masterminds, “Pune ZP operates 3638 primary schools, of which 403 schools have an enrolment of 150 or more students each. Cumulatively they teach 50% of its 2.30 Lakh students studying in Pune Zila Parishad’s Schools.”

QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Simultaneously, they roped in the Janki Devi Bajaj Foundation, to build the school under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Mr Prasad said that currently 37 teachers are teaching in 16 schools. After the schools would be clustered into one school, there would be eleven teachers and one headmaster. The teachers could specialise and be trained to teach different classes and different subjects. 

MID DAY MEAL

The Mid day Meal Program has further helped in improving the nutrition levels of children and has helped encourage enrolment in school & regular attendance. The foodgrain is provided by the Government and meals are cooked by locals.

Mr. Prasad and his team roped in local leaders who had been regularly complaining about teacher absenteeism in remote schools and discussed with them the possibility of a school that can impart high-quality education.

“Since there could be other possible sites for this school, we encouraged the local leaders to demand the project in their constituency by demonstrating public support. The leaders discussed with school management committees,” he shared.

Seeing the potential for a better quality of education, parents readily gave letters of intent of sending children to the cluster school.

YELLOW SCHOOL BUS

Further, the administration roped in Force motors to provide two yellow buses as children aspire to travel by a yellow bus to reach schools and are excited at the possibility. This would ensure punctuality & day-long attendance of students.

“All the practical issues have been taken care of and if the initiative works, it will set a model for others as well,” Mr. Mandhare said.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Bihar Government-resized-IM
Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle in Bihar: 6 IAS, 5 IPS & Over 100 BAS Officers Transferred; Anil Chaudhary Appointed Special Secretary, Home Dept
Ministry of Defence
Defence Ministry Opens Missile and Ammunition Production to Private Sector, Boosts Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Delhi Police
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha Orders Formation of 3 Units for Contingency Action Plan Amid Nepal Protests
Rajasthan High Court
Rajasthan High Court Allows Prosecution of Retired IAS Officer in Rs 8 Crore Wheat Scam
Uttar Pradesh CM resized
Sacred Confluence, Modern Vision: Yogi Govt Approves Rs. 1 Crore to Develop Durvasa Ashram as Tourism Hub in Azamgarh
Aapki Punji
Every Penny Counts: Finance Minister Launches "Aapki Punji, Aapka Adhikar" Campaign to Return Unclaimed Assets to Citizens
NATPOLREX
NATPOLREX-X 2025: Indian Coast Guard Hosts Mega Marine Pollution Exercise with 32 Nations in Chennai
CM Vishnu Deo Singh
Chhattisgarh Unveils Its First National Highway Tunnel: A Landmark in India's Infrastructure Drive Built in Just 12 Months
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Bihar Government-resized-IM
Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle in Bihar: 6 IAS, 5 IPS & Over 100 BAS Officers Transferred; Anil Chaudhary Appointed Special Secretary, Home Dept
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT