PMC initiates structural audit of civic schools, activists flag delay

Time of India

6 hours ago

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Pune: PMC on Tuesday issued tenders for structural audit of municipal school buildings for which it would spend around Rs 1 crore.
Citizens said that the process should have been completed before the start of the academic session in schools.
Already, monsoon has arrived, and heavy showers have affected several areas in the city.
If the audit was completed before the start of monsoon, it would have helped in carrying out necessary maintenance and repairs of schools, said activists. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) areas have around 180 civic school buildings in its jurisdiction, including merged areas. Along with structural audit of school buildings, PMC wants to carry out audit of other civic properties.
"The audit should be carried out in time and it must be followed by timely repairs. If not, then the whole exercise will remain just a formality. Many pupils study in very bad condition at civic schools. The audit should have been completed before monsoon," said Deepali Sardeshmukh of Maharashtra Rajya Vidyarthi Palak Shikshak Mahasangh.
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"Some civic schools don't even have basic facilities like toilets, while some schools don't have adequate space for students to sit.
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Teachers have been complaining about the problems, but it is very hard to get things done at the civic administration level," said a teacher working in a PMC school.
Another teacher said more such audits are needed for schools in the merged areas. Inspections would highlight lack of infrastructure in civic schools. "The process of mergers and demergers has adversely impacted schools in the merged areas. They are being ignored by PMC and other local self-governing agencies.
Neither financial aid nor adequate manpower is provided for managing these schools. Students are left with no option but to suffer due to poor infrastructure and hygiene," he said.
PMC's education department runs 250 schools. These institutes impart education in various mediums, including Marathi, English, Urdu, and Kannada. Students belonging to financially weaker sections generally seek admission in municipal schools.
Nearly 1,800 teachers work in these schools. Nearly 1 lakh students, mostly from deprived classes, study in these institutions. "Audits will be carried out in a phased manner.
Old school buildings will be given priority," said Rohidas Gavhane, a senior official of PMC.
The civic administration plans to install CCTV cameras in all municipal schools, with funds allocation of Rs 3 crore for this purpose. According to PMC officials, the decision is aimed at safeguarding not only students but also properties of these municipal schools.
Citizens and parents have complained to the authorities about nuisance created by antisocial elements on school premises.
Pune: PMC on Tuesday issued tenders for structural audit of municipal school buildings for which it would spend around Rs 1 crore.
Citizens said that the process should have been completed before the start of the academic session in schools. Already, monsoon has arrived, and heavy showers have affected several areas in the city.
If the audit was completed before the start of monsoon, it would have helped in carrying out necessary maintenance and repairs of schools, said activists. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) areas have around 180 civic school buildings in its jurisdiction, including merged areas.
Along with structural audit of school buildings, PMC wants to carry out audit of other civic properties.
"The audit should be carried out in time and it must be followed by timely repairs.
If not, then the whole exercise will remain just a formality. Many pupils study in very bad condition at civic schools. The audit should have been completed before monsoon," said Deepali Sardeshmukh of Maharashtra Rajya Vidyarthi Palak Shikshak Mahasangh.
"Some civic schools don't even have basic facilities like toilets, while some schools don't have adequate space for students to sit. Teachers have been complaining about the problems, but it is very hard to get things done at the civic administration level," said a teacher working in a PMC school.
Another teacher said more such audits are needed for schools in the merged areas. Inspections would highlight lack of infrastructure in civic schools. "The process of mergers and demergers has adversely impacted schools in the merged areas. They are being ignored by PMC and other local self-governing agencies. Neither financial aid nor adequate manpower is provided for managing these schools. Students are left with no option but to suffer due to poor infrastructure and hygiene," he said.
PMC's education department runs 250 schools. These institutes impart education in various mediums, including Marathi, English, Urdu, and Kannada. Students belonging to financially weaker sections generally seek admission in municipal schools. Nearly 1,800 teachers work in these schools. Nearly 1 lakh students, mostly from deprived classes, study in these institutions. "Audits will be carried out in a phased manner.
Old school buildings will be given priority," said Rohidas Gavhane, a senior official of PMC.
The civic administration plans to install CCTV cameras in all municipal schools, with funds allocation of Rs 3 crore for this purpose. According to PMC officials, the decision is aimed at safeguarding not only students but also properties of these municipal schools. Citizens and parents have complained to the authorities about nuisance created by antisocial elements on school premises.