In a pioneering move, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is poised to introduce a new concept of model schools within its current educational institutions. These model schools are set to feature cutting-edge smart furniture, laboratory-based classrooms, and engaging play areas, as outlined by officials.
This innovative concept bears resemblance to an approach previously introduced by the Delhi government in its schools years ago. Among several proposed or implemented reforms within the education department, this move stands out.
According to an MCD official, “The project is in the preliminary planning stage, with the aim of offering modern amenities at selected locations. The objective is to create a more interactive and captivating learning environment for students.”
MCD currently employs 17,628 teachers against the sanctioned 19,000 positions. In an effort to bridge this gap, the Delhi government recently transferred 350 trained graduate primary teachers appointed through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan initiative.
“Our immediate focus was to allocate schools to these teachers. If we are allocated an additional 400 teachers, we would be able to meet our minimum requirement based on the maximum attendance at schools on any given day,” clarified the official.
Back in September 2022, MCD issued a circular outlining a rational distribution of teachers based on daily class attendance. This strategic approach aimed to redistribute surplus teachers to other schools with higher attendance rates.
“While the Right to Education Act specifies one teacher per 40 students, our decision was to allocate surplus teachers to other schools where attendance is high, given our existing teacher strength,” emphasized the official. MCD has also recently augmented its workforce with special educators, bolstering their count to 1,520.
To elevate the training of primary school teachers, MCD dispatched batches for training to IIM Ahmedabad. An additional 50 batches are set to undergo training in Kozhikode, including 46 principals and one deputy director of education. The objective is to introduce new teaching methodologies to simplify learning for students and broaden teachers’ understanding of students’ needs.
In terms of infrastructure, MCD is conducting minor repairs in 191 school buildings, utilizing a sanctioned fund of Rs 4.5 crore allocated to school principals. Another Rs 22 crore has been allocated to the engineering department for substantial repairs, including constructing school buildings at ten locations.
Of MCD’s 1,535 schools operating across 1,185 buildings, some are still functioning in portable cabins. In these cases, MCD is pursuing solutions, including requesting space allocation for building constructions. The institution has streamlined the admission process by enabling parents to scan QR codes displayed at 1,795 sites/schools, facilitating the submission of student information online through generated forms.
“Our teams are proactively raising awareness about the admission process through channels like WhatsApp, voice messages, and videos. Collaborating with NGOs and leveraging the assistance of anganwadi workers, we aim to ensure a smooth admission process,” concluded the official.