Delhi: Extra coaching classes, computer education and street plays to control school dropout
One of the most worrying trends seen in the last five years is decreasing enrolment. The number of students studying in these schools has gone down by 10-20% since 2012.
To control the high dropout rate in the schools of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the civic body will give separate coaching classes to ‘weak’ students, emphasise on computer education and hold street plays to make students realise the importance of education.
About 1,500 CCTV cameras will be installed in a month’s time in 518 schools run by the corporation.
“The students of Class 3, 4 and 5 who are weak in studies will be offered coaching classes after school hours,” said SDMC mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat.
The corporation schools offer primary education till Class 5.
SDMC officials said they would seek help of NGOs and corporate houses in educating children — a promise made by Bharatiya Janata Party which rules the three corporations in its election manifesto.
“We have already roped in some NGOs and corporate houses which will help us financially. A deal has been finalised to get grants for five schools in Central Zone and one in Dwarka,” she said.
One of the most worrying trends seen in the last five years is decreasing enrolment. The number of students studying in these schools has gone down by 10-20% since 2012. Officials say it’s also because many children find seats in private schools, thanks to the quota for the economically weaker sections.
All three corporations have seen a decrease in enrolment rate by 10-20% in the last five years. According to data compiled by National University of Educational Planning and Administration, about 5.69% students in Class 5 dropped out of school in Delhi in 2015-16. In the transition period – when students in municipal schools move to a government school in Class 6 – the dropout rate was 1.93%.
EDMC has the highest dropout rate at 16.3% in 2014-15 and 17.3% in 2015-16. For north corporation, dropout rate increased from 7.7% to 11.7%. It rose marginally from 8% to 8.3% in south corporation schools during the same period.
To deal with the problem, a street play group named ‘believe in yourself’ has been hired to perform plays in schools of South Corporation.
“The artistes will weave the street play around the theme of importance of education,” she said.
A senior official of South Corporation said, “The plan is to give extra classes to students of Class 3 to 5. We are yet to decide whether we will take the help of in-house teachers, hire extra teachers or NGOs that work in this direction.”
This will help students aspiring to continue their studies in Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya or other educational institutes.
Also three computers will be given to each school to boost digital education. Computer education was among main demands in last parent-teacher meet in corporation schools.
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