Private players may partner Chennai Schools

The civic body has suggested a model of skill development for students of Chennai Schools under the partnership

With private entities showing an interest in the running of Chennai Corporation’s schools, the civic body is mulling a public-private partnership (PPP) to perk up its education infrastructure.

However, the civic body is equally concerned about the long-term impact of such a move on education of students belonging to the weaker sections of the society.

The civic body held a meeting with private entities on Monday. A range of options under the PPP mode were discussed for optimum use of the civic body’s infrastructure for improving education. One of the proposals was that 10 Chennai School buildings be handed over to private entities for running schools. But civic body officials refused permission for such kind of private control over Corporation-run schools.

The civic body, however, has suggested a model of skill development for students under the PPP mode. Under the model, the private player would initiate world-class soft skills training followed by free training on a range of skill development for students belonging to the weaker sections.

The PPP mode was suggested by private entities as part of an initiative to cope with the challenge of dwindling student strength in Chennai Schools due to competition from private English-medium schools and other government-aided schools. The relocation of slums in various parts is likely to have an impact on many Chennai Schools.

Around 30 Chennai Schools were merged a few years ago because of lack of adequate numbers in each class. The merged schools were found to be located adjacent to slums relocated to newly-developed tenements on the outskirts of the city.

A similar situation is likely to be faced by many Chennai Schools because of yet another round of resettlement of slums proposed to be completed in a few months.