Several government schools lack basic infrastructure such as benches, classrooms and boundary walls. But the State government’s ambitious School Nurturing Programme, launched in 2009, to get corporates to adopt such schools and improve infrastructure does not seem to have had the desired effect.
Exactly a year ago, the Department of Public Instruction launched a programme where they planned to involve companies and non-governmental organisations to develop government schools by chalking out a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. Department officials had mooted the formation of a committee to oversee the CSR initiatives of various companies. However, a department official said that all this remains only on paper. Officials said that many of corporates work with individual schools after entering into a memorandum of understanding, but they refuse to commit large amounts, as the department has not yet laid down a policy.
Sai Prakash, a CSR advisor for companies, said that there was no follow-up and pointed out to the need for the department to win the confidence of companies. “Various companies are willing to invest in government schools, but there is a need for clarity on many aspects. If this is cleared, more donors will come forward,” he explained.
He pointed out that there is a need for the department to engage in a dialogue with companies to explore partnership. “After a series of sexual assaults, security appears to be a concern. Companies may come forward to install CCTV cameras in schools and the government can explore the possibility of bringing matching grants for such projects,” he said.
The head of a government school in north Bengaluru, who has been able to mobilise NGOs to contribute to the school, stressed the need for such a policy, as it would help define roles of teachers and donors. “Sometimes, after NGOs donate computers or help us build classrooms, they end up interfering in academics and functioning of the school, which turns out to be a major problem for us,” she explained.
She said that there is a need for teachers to have greater say in the process.
“Donors have a fixed mindset and want to donate tabs and other gadgets. But when basic infrastructure is not in place, they should consider fulfilling such requirements first,” a teacher said.
