Demand for more teachers at ETC for special children

That there are fewer teachers at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC)-run Education and Training Centre (ETC) for special children, was discussed at the standing committee meeting on Wednesday, with members batting for more teachers at the institute.

NCP corporator from Koparkhairane, Shivram Patil, said, “There are 450 students in ETC, as against 24 teachers. What is stopping the administration from recruiting more teachers at this school?”

Congress corporator, Sindhu Naik, drew the attention of the administration to the long waiting list, to get admission to ETC. “A family has been following up with me to get their son admitted to ETC. However, the wait list number for them is 762.”

NCP corporator from Vashi, Vikram Shinde, wanted to know the ratio of teachers and students in such schools, while Shiv Sena corporator, Vijayanand Mane, wanted to know whether state or central government funds were available for ETC.

Varsha Bhagat, director of ETC, said, “As per the norm, the ideal ratio of children and teacher should be 8:1 that can be stretched to 10:1 at the most. Accordingly, we need 45 teachers at ETC. There are 250 regular students at ETC, while the rest come for remedial treatment.”

She said, “Students residing only in NMMC’s jurisdiction are admitted to ETC. Though there are private schools imparting education and training to special kids, the quality of education delivered in NMMC schools is way above standard and has set a benchmark in itself.”

Deputy municipal commissioner, JN Sinnarkar, said, “Around 10-12 teachers should be recruited on a temporary basis till provision for permanent teachers is made and the entire process for recruiting teachers will be over in the next two months.