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
Related Stories
NEWS
IAS-Officer-Logo
IAS Siddharth Mahajan’s Tenure as Joint Secretary Extended in Department of Commerce
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
IRS Vikas Singh Appointed Director in Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Inter cadre Transfer
Two IPS Officer Given Inter-cadre Transfer on the Grounds of Marriage; Check Names Here
Alka Tiwari IAS
Jharkhand: IAS Alka Tiwari Appointed New Chief Secretary Ahead of Elections
Bibek Debroy
Remembering Bibek Debroy: The Economist Who Bridged Ancient Wisdom and Modern Policy
Ministry_of_CorporateAffairs(Corporate)MCA
IRS Kiran Reddy T Appointed Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs
bribery
Two IRS & Three CGST SIs Arrested By CBI In "Rs. 50 Lakh" Bribery Case
West bengal Government WB
West Bengal: IAS Ravi Kumar Meena Made SDO, Arambagh-Hooghly
Videos
Prakash Singn IPS
Mulayam Singh Introduced Casteism in Police Force
WhatsApp Image 2024-10-25 at 21.23
Why Only Soldiers? Can’t Politicians or Civilians Sacrifice Too?
IMG-20241022-WA0016
IAS Officer’s Mission to Combat Breast Cancer in Rural India | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Tejas Krishna Prasad
How COVID-19 Led an Olympic Marksman to Crack UPSC
IAS-Officer-Logo
IAS Siddharth Mahajan’s Tenure as Joint Secretary Extended in Department of Commerce
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Prakash Singn IPS
WhatsApp Image 2024-10-25 at 21.23
IMG-20241022-WA0016
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT