The Times of India 19.03.2013
PCMC to open two primary English medium schools
PUNE:
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's school board has proposed
to open two primary English medium schools in association with a social
organization run by a corporate firm.The schools would be
opened at the existing municipal schools located near Tapovan temple in
Pimprigaon and the other at Kasarwadi. They will be jointly run by the
school board and Akanksha Foundation of Thermax Limited, said Vijay Lokhande, chairman, PCMC school board.
The board runs 136 schools where students from slums and poor families study. More than 90% of these schools have Marathi as the medium of teaching. However, there is a growing demand from parents for English medium schools.
"Some parents from poor background are trying to get their children admitted to private English medium schools, but fees in such schools are unaffordable. So, a need was being felt for English medium municipal school," Lokhande said.
"In Pimprigaon and nearby areas of Pimpri, there are several reputed English medium schools, but the fees in these schools are too high. Also, the number of seats in such schools is limited. Same is the case with schools in Kasarwadi and nearby areas,'' he said.
Students will not have to pay fees to study in the new English medium schools, while the school board will provide the education material. The Akanksha Foundation would recruit teachers for the schools and pay their salaries. To start with, the schools will have three divisions each of lower kindergarten and upper kindergarten. Each division will have 40 students and one teacher will be appointed for each division, which is as per the norms of Right To Education Act, Lokhande said.
Administration officer of the primary education department, Ashok Bhosale, said, "The school board will make available separate buildings at the two places for the new schools. Students attending classes in the existing buildings will be shifted to nearby municipal schools".
The PCMC is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the foundation in this regard. The proposal will be tabled in the civic general body meeting on March 20, for its approval.
The board runs 136 schools where students from slums and poor families study. More than 90% of these schools have Marathi as the medium of teaching. However, there is a growing demand from parents for English medium schools.
"Some parents from poor background are trying to get their children admitted to private English medium schools, but fees in such schools are unaffordable. So, a need was being felt for English medium municipal school," Lokhande said.
"In Pimprigaon and nearby areas of Pimpri, there are several reputed English medium schools, but the fees in these schools are too high. Also, the number of seats in such schools is limited. Same is the case with schools in Kasarwadi and nearby areas,'' he said.
Students will not have to pay fees to study in the new English medium schools, while the school board will provide the education material. The Akanksha Foundation would recruit teachers for the schools and pay their salaries. To start with, the schools will have three divisions each of lower kindergarten and upper kindergarten. Each division will have 40 students and one teacher will be appointed for each division, which is as per the norms of Right To Education Act, Lokhande said.
Administration officer of the primary education department, Ashok Bhosale, said, "The school board will make available separate buildings at the two places for the new schools. Students attending classes in the existing buildings will be shifted to nearby municipal schools".
The PCMC is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the foundation in this regard. The proposal will be tabled in the civic general body meeting on March 20, for its approval.
