Mumbai:
In a landmark decision that will change the face of municipal education in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to privatise schools amid vehement opposition from Congress-NCP councillors.
The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, which controls the BMC, passed the proposal on Wednesday. But the Opposition tore the proposal papers and flung pieces of it in front of the Standing Committee chairman Rahul Shewale.
The Opposition alleges that the BMC, which runs more than 1300 schools across the city, is shirking responsibility and it wants private bodies to clean up the mess it has created in the primary education system. Asif Zakaria, a Congress corporator told NDTV, "What is the logic behind privatising schools? There is no financial problem or anything of that sort. The BMC's track record speaks for itself. Whenever there has been privatisation there has been very little supervision and it most cases it has not benefitted the common man."
The BMC says admission to primary schools have been falling despite allocation of funds for building infrastructure to improve the conditions. This year alone it has allocated Rs 300 crore for infrastructure. It claims that handing over management of its schools to private bodies would improve the quality of education and would thereby result in more admissions in its schools.
Vitthal Kharatmor, the Chairman of the Education Committee in the BMC told NDTV "We are not handing over all schools. We will only hand over a few schools initially. We will conduct an audit at the beginning and the end of the year. And if we find they are not performing they will be removed."
Farida Lambay, a well-known education activist told NDTV, "I only hope that the intent and the action are in tandem with each other. Whether this concern is going to be addressed is doubtful. As far as children coming to school, I am not sure you will guarantee admissions by handing it over to private bodies."
Meanwhile the sentiment on the road is one that would have the BMC worried. Some of the Mumbaikars NDTV spoke to, said, "There is no use of giving it in private hands. It's better if the Government runs them." Ramesh Naik, whose children study in a municipal school said "It is wrong and it shouldn't happen. We have all studied in Government schools."
There are different opinions on whether the BMC is shirking responsibility or is this a genuine attempt to improve the quality of education in the city is something that will be clear once the decision is implemented. Meanwhile, as a political battle ensues over the privatisation of BMC schools the verdict on whether this is a good idea or not, is still open.
The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, which controls the BMC, passed the proposal on Wednesday. But the Opposition tore the proposal papers and flung pieces of it in front of the Standing Committee chairman Rahul Shewale.
The Opposition alleges that the BMC, which runs more than 1300 schools across the city, is shirking responsibility and it wants private bodies to clean up the mess it has created in the primary education system. Asif Zakaria, a Congress corporator told NDTV, "What is the logic behind privatising schools? There is no financial problem or anything of that sort. The BMC's track record speaks for itself. Whenever there has been privatisation there has been very little supervision and it most cases it has not benefitted the common man."
The BMC says admission to primary schools have been falling despite allocation of funds for building infrastructure to improve the conditions. This year alone it has allocated Rs 300 crore for infrastructure. It claims that handing over management of its schools to private bodies would improve the quality of education and would thereby result in more admissions in its schools.
Vitthal Kharatmor, the Chairman of the Education Committee in the BMC told NDTV "We are not handing over all schools. We will only hand over a few schools initially. We will conduct an audit at the beginning and the end of the year. And if we find they are not performing they will be removed."
Farida Lambay, a well-known education activist told NDTV, "I only hope that the intent and the action are in tandem with each other. Whether this concern is going to be addressed is doubtful. As far as children coming to school, I am not sure you will guarantee admissions by handing it over to private bodies."
Meanwhile the sentiment on the road is one that would have the BMC worried. Some of the Mumbaikars NDTV spoke to, said, "There is no use of giving it in private hands. It's better if the Government runs them." Ramesh Naik, whose children study in a municipal school said "It is wrong and it shouldn't happen. We have all studied in Government schools."
There are different opinions on whether the BMC is shirking responsibility or is this a genuine attempt to improve the quality of education in the city is something that will be clear once the decision is implemented. Meanwhile, as a political battle ensues over the privatisation of BMC schools the verdict on whether this is a good idea or not, is still open.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
