The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Many BMP schools show improved performance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 22, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Many BMP schools show improved performance

Chitra V. Ramani and Divya Ramamurthi

BACK TOSCHOOL-III There is an eight per cent increase in passes in SSLC

CHECKING DROPOUT RATE: Initiatives such as midday meals have helped government schools to attract poor students. File Photo

Chitra V. Ramani and

Divya Ramamurthi

Bangalore: This year, schools run by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) recorded an eight per cent increase in passes in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination.

Speaking to The Hindu, M.V. Yerrappa, Assistant Education Officer (East), BMP, attributed the improvement in pass percentage to initiatives such as special classes taken up by the corporation schoolteachers.

"Special classes were held after the school hours, sometimes even on Sundays. Children were also divided into study groups. The teachers were also directed to complete the syllabus in December," he said.

Nichala Pragasham, Education Officer, BMP, said the dropout rate had decreased owing to the facilities provided by the corporation, which included midday meals, free books, uniforms, shoes, socks and bags.

"The dropout rate is now hovering around five per cent. The attendance rate is also showing an improvement," he said.

Low pass percentage

However, a few schools in the Cantonment area have fared badly. The pass percentage in three corporation schools is less than 20 — Corporation Boys High School, Austin Town; Corporation Boys High School, Jogupalya; Corporation Boys High School, Tasker Town.

The pass percentage of 18 of the 33 corporation schools is less than 50 per cent.

"The pass percentage is low in a few schools in and around the Cantonment area, as the children there come to school after working elsewhere. By the time they get to school, they are tired from all the work and their attention span is naturally low," Mr. Yerrappa said.

B.M. Mangala, corporator of Jogupalya, said the corporation schools performance was better than the previous year's. "Last year, the pass percentage of the Boys' High School in my area was 1.59. It has increased to 10.38 this year. The situation in all the corporation schools is showing improvement," she said.

Poor attendance

Mr. Yerrappa said the attendance in these schools was also poor. The teachers and headmasters meet with the parents once every month and urge them to send their wards regularly to school.

"However, the parents are not ready to cooperate. Most of the families belong to the lower income groups and it is essential for them to find ways to supplement their income. Sending children to work is one way," he said.

Shortage of teachers

Mr. Yerrappa said of the 336 sanctioned posts of teachers, 148 were vacant. He also said that the corporation had called for applications from teachers for 48 posts.

"Teachers have not been appointed since 1996. Majority of the teachers working in the corporation schools are retired teachers of aided and government schools," he said.

Ms. Mangala said shortage of teachers in the corporation schools could be one of the factors for poor results. "The issue has been raised many times in the BMP Council. It is only recently that the BMP decided to appoint retired teachers to fill a few vacant posts," she added.

Textbooks, infrastructure

Mr. Pragasham said over 75 per cent of the textbooks required for the coming academic year had been procured.

"Last year, there was a severe shortage of textbooks. The admissions will be completed by June 15, and we will procure the remainder after that," he said.

He said Rs. 24 crores had been earmarked for the payment of salaries and extending facilities in the corporation schools, while Rs. 2.5 crore had been allotted for the improvement of infrastructure in schools.

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