55k PCMC school students to undergo QCI assessment

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: For the next three years, close to 55,000 students from Std I to Std X at 128 primary and secondary schools run by Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will undergo an elaborate academic assessment by the Quality Council of India (QCI) at the beginning and the end of each year.

QCI is a national accreditation body set up on a public-private partnership basis for the assessment and rating of institutions. The pre- and post-academic performances of the students will also be shared with their parents.

Municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh in a live interaction on social media said, "With the assessment, we will focus on improving the academic performances of the students who excel and those who need attention in certain subjects will be offered help. We will appoint one counsellor for every five schools to address students' mental health. It will also make them aware of these issues," he said.

He added that to make sure that teachers are available for academic work and do not have much of an administrative workload, data entry operators will be appointed. Teachers will be more accountable for their students and teaching.

"Sports teachers will be appointed to give scope to sports and spot talent in students. All new activities which will be implemented by the civic body will focus on the overall development of all students in nursery, primary and secondary schools," he said.

Singh said that 267 primary and 165 secondary teachers have been recruited on a contract basis. Data entry operators, counsellors, arts and sports teachers are being recruited in every school.