In Mumbai: BMC to rope in private entities to revive defunct civic schools, curb dropouts

Officials said even as the policy is in the final stage, the process of shortlisting schools that were shut continues

Looks like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has found a solution to curb the ever-increasing dropout rate and revive defunct civic schools in the city. In a policy that is likely to be tabled before the education committee next week, the BMC has proposed partnering private entities to reopen defunct civic schools. The policy claims to promote quality education by enrolling private players.

According to the civic officials, 35 schools in the city were shutdown over the years (Representational photo/Getty Images)

According to the civic officials, 35 schools in the city were shutdown over the years. The BMC will provide this infrastructure to NGOs and CSR (corporate social responsibility) teams to run the schools as per their medium-of-instruction (MOI). The institutions will undergo a screening process and they will also be expected to submit a plan on running the school which needs civic approval. The MOI must meet the locality’s popular choice.

These schools that will be run in partnership will also be called the model public schools, civic officials said. The concept was introduced in the civic budget 2017-18.

Officials said that even as the policy is in the final stages, the process of shortlisting schools that were shut continues. The policy was approved at the group leaders meeting in the BMC. Milind Sawant, deputy municipal commissioner (education), BMC, said, “The policy will now to be tabled before the education committee and the corporation.”