School peons to greet you in impeccable English

Although peons are an integral part of a school, often they are unable to strike camaraderie with the students or parents as they are unable to speak in English.

Now, to set things right, many schools are sending their peons to night schools for English lessons.

As part of an adult literacy drive, a growing number of school peons are learning to roll their Rs and soften their Ts.  

This drive is initiated by a group of HR College, Churchgate, students who are teaching part time in these night schools. They intend to help school peons so that they speak fluent English and improve their communication skills.

“A school peon is the first person parents turn to for help. He knows the school inside out. But many a times, peons do not know any other language besides Hindi and their native tongue. Parents also tend to disregard them. English lessons will help them in communicating with students and parents alike,” said Sister Rani Anthony, principal, Villa Theresa School, Peddar Road. 

Started with three peons from Villa Theresa School, this drive plans to increase the number of students to over a hundred school peons by 2012.

Besides spoken English, they will also be taught reading and writing as per National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) rules.

They will appear for the class 10 examination which will be conducted in April 2012 by NIOS.

Currently 450 students, including peons from nearly five schools from South Mumbai, are a part of this programme.

Classes are conducted at eight night schools and 16 students from the college are teaching at these centres.