BENGALURU: Encouraged by the grand success of night schools in Ballari, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to replicate them in the city to ensure better performance by underprivileged students of government schools.
Children living in slum areas do not have sufficient space to study after school hours and night schools are expected to plug this gap.
In Ballari, the Vidyarthi Belaku scheme implemented during 2016-19 benefited thousands of students. The classes were held from 6pm to 8pm. The programme was conceptualised by V Ram Prasanth Manohar, who was then CEO of Ballari zilla panchayat. Manohar, now posted as BBMP special commissioner (estate/education/lake/forest), is planning to implement the same programme in Bengaluru.
BBMP runs 165 schools in the city. Several students living in slums study in BBMP schools and are in need of special attention. Manohar told STOI children need dedicated spaces for study hours.
BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, who has also worked with the department of public instruction (DPI), is keen on implementing the scheme for Bengaluru schools.
‘Teachers will be trained’
Manohar said his department will come up with an action plan and teachers will also be trained to handle children after school hours. He said in Ballari, the scheme improved the overall pass percentage in schools and was even hailed by the Union government.
He added that many NGOs are interested in engaging with children’s education and more details of the programme will be shared once the plan of action is chalked out.
