Vijay Goel, adopt these schools

NEW DELHI: Four hundred and thirty-five students, one teacher and no classrooms. One hundred and seven students, two teachers and 17 rooms. Startling facts — but these are schools right in the heart of the city.
A case of wasteful plenty at places, at others of acute scarcity.
Both the examples cited above are of primary schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).But these are not the exception. A study conducted by minister of state in the PMO Vijay Goel in his parliamentary constituency, Chandni Chowk, reveals that most school are in an utter state of neglect.
‘‘We conducted a study of 57 schools in this constituency comprising the Walled City, Paharganj and parts of Civil Lines. We found there was a total lack of any kind of official monitoring,’’ said Goel. He has now taken it upon himself to adopt one of these schools and create a model for the MCD to follow. ‘‘The idea is to involve the community in improving the schools in their neighbourhood,’’ he said.
According to him, most of the schools in the area are located in old buildings and most require repairs and improvement of some sort or the other. ‘‘Half the schools need their roofs repaired,’’ he said.
Apart from the general state of disarray, he said funds and infrastructure where available are not used in a planned manner.
‘‘The schools are so poorly managed that most parents prefer to send their children to public schools even if they have to take a loan,’’ he said.
He felt most of these schools need to be clubbed together. Goel has also decided to adopt an MCD school in Ajmeri Gate. He proposes to rejuvenate the school with the help of the local community. ‘‘About 369 students attend the morning shift, while 121 students attend the evening shift. The school has 10 blackboards and another 10 are needed. There’s no proper arrangement for drinking water,’’ said Goel.
‘‘We plan to involve local bodies like the Paper Merchants’ Association to make contributions. We have prepared a committee of teachers who will ensure that the building is maintained. Another committee of parents will mobilise funds and keep a watch,’’ he said.
To begin with the school will get proper desks, lighting, windows and a fresh coat of paint. Goel says if successful the plan will be implemented in all the 57 schools. ‘‘We have already spoken to the municipal commissioner and at a later stage this experiment may be adopted in entire Delhi,’’ he said.