BANGALORE: Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seems to be interested in ‘changing Corporation schools’. If you are thinking that Palike is working towards bringing quality education, you are wrong. The BBMP is planning to change the name of the educational institutions run by them to Kempegowda schools and colleges.
The Palike runs 178 primary and secondary schools, 38 high schools, 13 pre-university colleges and one degree college. All of them are called Corporation Schools and Corporation Colleges. According to Ramesh Babu, Chairman to Standing Committee (Education), there is a sense of ‘inferiority complex’ among people to send their children to study in Corporation schools and colleges. “We, therefore, are changing the name to Kempegowda Schools and Kempegowda Colleges. We preferred Kempegowda as he is the founder of Bangalore.”
Not just the name, even the outlook of these educational institutes are going to change. According to Ramesh, all schools and colleges run by the BBMP will have uniform colour that will distinguish them from other Government and private schools. “These colours will be rich and bright. We are also planning to give a classy look to the buildings. We are yet to chose the colour,” he said.
Further, Ramesh said that the Standing Committee (Education) has approved renaming Corporation schools and colleges, and for a new coat of paint. “We have sent the same to Commissioner, who will in turn send it to the Revenue Department for the final approval,” he added.
When questioned about any plans to improve the the quality of education, Ramesh said that they have increased the monthly salary for all outsourced teachers working in their schools and colleges. “We have increased their pay by Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000,” he added.
A Congress councillor, who did not wish to reveal the identity, said that in both the SSLC and second Pre University exams, the passing percentage of BBMP schools and colleges is miserably low. “Instead of competing with private schools and colleges over looks (cosmetic changes), let them provide good infrastructure like classrooms and also good education. Changing the name from BBMP to Kempegowda will not change any of these aspects. Moreover, the change in name or the colour will not make any difference to the students studying in these schools and colleges,” the councillor said.