If there's one thread running through the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)-run education institutions, it is lack of adequate facilities. The 146 institutions, including primary schools and pre-university colleges, are now being offered up for adoption.
B. Govindaraju, chairperson of Standing Committee for Education and Sports, told The Hindu the civic authority was already in talks with various organisations and several philanthropists. “We have initiated talks, but nothing has been finalised.”
Though these institutions have good student strength and secure good results, they are still looked down upon, he lamented.
“We hit upon the idea as the BBMP was finding it difficult to maintain them. If the schools and colleges are adopted, they will be better maintained and this will also help remove the bias in citizens' minds,” he said.
Rainwater harvesting
The Standing Committee proposes to install rainwater harvesting system in all BBMP's education institutions. Mr. Govindaraju said this would also help BBMP persuade citizens to install it in their homes.
He also said that the committee had discussed painting all the BBMP institutions a uniform colour.
On Thursday, the committee inspected three schools in Puttanna Garden, Cleveland Town and Cox Town and found that they faced the common problem of inadequate infrastructure. “There were a few other minor problems, which were sorted out locally.”
Mr. Govindaraju claimed that staff shortage was not an issue. “We have outsourced teachers in some schools. However, principals and headmasters in a few schools have urged the BBMP to appoint permanent teachers for languages, mathematics and science.” The major shortage is in Group D employees, he added.
