The civic body’s virtual classroom project has started gaining momentum. After months of neglect by corporation officials and school staff, the classrooms are up and running in most schools this academic year, thanks to an expose by dna in December 2013.
What is virtual classroom project?
A brainchild of Uddhav Thackeray, whose party Shiv Sena is ruling the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), audio-visual facilities were set up in 400 civic-run schools across the city at a cost of Rs27 crore last year. The aim was to teach students in a fun-filled manner, which, in turn, would put a check on poor attendance.
What did dna expose?
Visits to 15 schools by this correspondent showed that the classrooms were in a shambles. In most schools, they were being used as a storeroom. In some, though the equipment were kept properly, rats had damaged the cables. A few schools were facing internet connectivity problems which effectively had turned the Rs2-lakh set to a showpiece.
How did BMC react to it?
According to sources in the education department of BMC, within a week of dna’s report, top officials started cracking the whip. Technicians visited the schools to ensure that the system was receiving clear signals from the central studio in Dadar. Dr Richa Singh, a volunteer with Citizen Association for Child Rights, an NGO that works with municipal schools, said, “It is good to see efforts being made in terms of installation and resolution of glitches.”
The scene today?
Singh said the e-learning classroom at the Marathi-medium Chakala Municipal School in Andheri (East) was having connectivity issues for a long time, but it’s resolved now. “The equipment was partially installed at the primary section of the Chakala Hindi-medium school. Today, the system is fully installed and operational.”
At Tank Lane civic school, Santa Cruz (West), the BMC has fixed all rodent-damaged wires, while students at Marwali Church Marathi school, Santa Cruz’s Manekji Gazdarbandh school and schools at Chembur Naka are being taught through live beaming.
How are students finding it?
The new-age teaching method has got a thumbs-up from the pupils. “They are better than our regular classes. I like the way they teach English,” said a Std VI girl student. Dr Singh said it might take some time to sync the timetable and classes as the system is new to the teachers.
Is there any hitch?
While Deputy Municipal Commissioner (education) Sunil Dhamne didn’t take calls, an official said lackadaisical attitude on the part of schools was a stumbling block. “They do not take enough interest in the project and not inform us in case of a problem. They are not ready embrace new technologies,” he said. Another official said an aggressive monitoring is a must for the success of the project.
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