N Mumbai schools protest against `adopted school’ policy

Thousands of students and parents in Navi Mumbai protested against the government's policy of allowing private organizations to adopt government-run schools. They fear this will lead to privatization and make education unaffordable for the weaker sections.

NAVI MUMBAI

Navi Mumbai civic students and their parents staged a protest against the school adoption policy of state government at Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Vidyalaya at Rabale in Navi Mumbai, India, on Sunday, October 22, 2023. (Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO)

Thousands of students of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) schools and their parents protested in their respective schools on Sunday against the state government’s newly introduced policy of allowing private organisations to adopt government run schools. They believe the measure will eventually lead to privatisation of the schools which will make them unaffordable for the weaker sections.

The policy allows schools of all mediums under government or local bodies to be adopted by individuals, corporations or non-governmental organisations with a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certificate. The objective is to improve infrastructure and amenities in the schools to provide quality education. The adoption can be for 5 years or 10 years with the option of schools being named after the donor, along with its original name. There are no cash contributions with the donors having to supply goods and services worth R 50 lakh to ₹3 crore based on categories of schools and the duration chosen.

There are around 50,000 students studying in the civic schools in the city. The students were accompanied by the teachers and parents in the protest that was led by former mayor Sudhakar Sonawane. Apart from protest meetings in the schools, the students also held silent rallies holding placards against the government order.

Sonawane who has been credited with turning a school in Rabale into a modern well equipped school said, “Why does the government need this private participation? All they will do is paint the buildings and clean the toilets. They will virtually own the school with their names on it. A similar experiment in another city led to a Lavni programme being organized by the donor at an auditorium built by it. ”

He added, “This is a ploy to eventually privatize the schools. Where will our students from the economically weaker sections go then? How can they afford such schools then?”

Stated Sonawane, “Instead of such schemes, the government should concentrate on improving the quality of education by giving books and uniforms in time and developing proper infrastructure in all schools. The parents and students are all upset, as are teachers and that’s why all civic schools in the city are participating in the protest today.”

Prasanna Khambe, a 9th standard student of Rajshri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj school in Rabale, said, “We are protesting because my school is my responsibility. We have assembled despite it being a holiday. We have enough facilities already and the civic body and government can further improve them, aren’t they capable enough? Are we a burden on the government?”

Stated Khambe, “We are from poor homes, our parents are working hard to ensure our education. We appeal to the government that is our guardian, to cancel the scheme as our future will be at stake if handed over to private individuals.”

Said Sushma Ghodeswar, a parent of a child studying in Ghansoli civic school, “Instead of formal adoption of schools, the support can also be extended through donations and CSR funds of companies. The public schools are the only hope for us to ensure our children lead better lives. We cannot trust private parties to ensure our upliftment.”

She added, “We are used to hardships and will continue to fight for our rights if the government doesn’t accept our demand.”

Informed Sonawane, “If the policy is not dropped soon, we will intensify the agitation after Dussehra. The parents are not going to accept this as is obvious by their presence today.”