Pvt organisations may soon take over civic schools

Privatisation of the management of public schools might help stem the decrease in numbers of students. HT reports.

With civic schools in the city in a shambles, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposal to rope in private organisations for the management of these schools is an attempt to improve the quality of education.

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The civic education department’s proposal to involve private organisations in the management of schools under the civic body is scheduled to be placed before the standing committee on Wednesday.

With powers to appoint its own teaching staff including the principal, as well as take academic and managerial decisions, a private organisation can completely take over a BMC-run school under this policy.

While justifying the need for such a policy, the civic education committee chairman, Vitthal Kharatmol, said: “As there is stringent discipline followed in private organisations, a similar culture can be brought into the civic school system as well. Nowadays, there are few takers for civic schools. When people learn that civic schools too are indirectly run by private organisations, the dwindling student-strength might improve.”

Though academic experts welcomed the move, they are also sceptical about letting private organisations completely take over public schools.

“Handing over the management of a public school completely to a private organisation would mean that the BMC is ridding itself of its responsibility and encouraging privatisation. Instead, there needs to be a model in place whereby private organisations can work in partnership with the BMC,” said Farida Lambay, co-founder of Pratham, a non-government organisation that works for the education of underprivileged children.

“Going by the present condition of BMC schools, involving private institutions is likely to improve the quality of education. But administrative issues cannot be ruled out. If responsibilities are not clearly defined, two different managerial bodies for a single school will lead to a clash of interests,” said Basanti Roy, educationalist and former SSC board official.