NEW DELHI: While education might be the tool to change the world and PM Narendra Modi’s brave endeavour to spread the light of knowledge among children of the country is appreciated, Delhi’s municipality is not turning to the right page.
As many as 49,000 children dropped out of schools run by the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporations of Delhi in 2016. Primary education—Nursery to Class V, responsibility of the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD)—is lagging behind. Civic officials blame the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Delhi government for this mass exodus, as it is “flouting” rules. As per the MCD Education Act, primary education can only be given by schools run by civic bodies. The Right to Education Act 2009, which mandates providing education to all as a state subject, supersedes the MCD Act.
North MCD, the biggest and the most densely populated of all the three MCDs, has lost 35,000 students this year. In 2015, MCD schools had 3.35 lakh students, which fell to three lakh in 2016. Schools under South MCD saw a drop of 14,000 students this year.
“A requirement of 100 principals, 800 teachers and 50 school inspectors has been registered in a report submitted by 720 schools,” said Mamta Nagpal, chairperson of North Education Committee. “The main reason behind this is the image of MCD schools. Funds and manpower resource crunch are disastrous.”
Yashpal Arya, chairman of the Education Committee, said “We are takings steps to prevent this, but the Delhi government is also responsible. As per rules, the government is not supposed to start primary classes, but it is doing so. In last one month, 370 cases of fever among children were reported, which includes one death. We have drinking water from ROs in schools, but minimal resources are spent on their maintenance.”
“The dropout rate is a cause of worry. But, we are thinking of roping in the private sector to better our image,” said Rajkumar Dhillon, Deputy Mayor, East MCD.
Civic officials are considering putting an accountability system in place with strict punishment for slackness. “Teachers will have to justify their posts. If a student is absent for a few days, they will have to ask the family,” said a senior MCD official.
“MCD is corrupt. Teachers misbehave with children. Children leave for low-fee private schools and schools run by NGOs,” said education activist Ashok Aggarwal.