The Indian Express            21.08.2013

Civic body’s school adoption scheme finds many takers

"The response has been very heartening. We have received applications from not just big NGOs, but also education societies like DPS, DAV and Modern schools - groups which are already running major public schools in the capital," said Satish Upadhyay, Education Committee Chairman, South Corporation.

"Everybody wants their children to study in a DPS or a Modern School. Through this scheme, we not only want to boost parents' confidence in corporation schools, but also attract parents from middle-class families who aspire to send their children to reputed public schools," he said.

Apart from major schools, corporate social responsibility (CSR) arms of big foundations like Bharti Airtel, SRF Foundation, Azim Premji Foundation, Tech Mahindra, Akanksha Foundation and ARK Foundation have also approached the body.

"Central Square Foundation will be the third party NGO, and will be responsible for coordinating between schools and NGOs, and imparting the necessary training. We have been conducting meetings on a fortnightly basis in order to fine-tune the modalities," he added.

Under the proposal, the corporation will provide the infrastructure and the education societies and foundations, which adopt these schools, will be free renovate it if they so wish.

They will also be given the right to appoint their own teachers and staff.

"The adopted schools, in turn, will have to retain students already enrolled in the school besides enrolling all students from the locality. These students will be provided with education free of cost, as well as free books and bags. The onus of raising the standard of education will lie with them," said Upadhyay.

Schools that score low on various parameters like infrastructure, hygiene and quality of education will be given for adoption first. Presently, South corporation has over 588 schools under its jurisdiction, where students of low-income groups and BPL families are enrolled.

"We believe in inclusive education and this move is just another step we are taking in that direction," he said.