More than 3.27 lakh children in Gujarat including more than 40,000 students in Ahmedabad city have shifted from self-financed schools to government primary schools, stated the state government in the last seven years
Amid repeated questions being raised by Delhi’s Aam Admi Party (AAP) on Gujarat’s education system where Delhi’s deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia even visited a few government schools in Gujarat counterpart Education Minister Jitu Vaghani’s constituency, the state government released numbers on the shift of students from private to government schools.
The Gujarat government has further claimed that the government-run schools have provided state-of-the-art educational facilities and other infrastructural facilities integrated with technology making students leave private schools for government education facilities.
The official release further claimed that Ahmedabad recorded the highest number of students shifting from private schools to government-run primary schools in Gujarat.
The state government in its release further said that the state government schools are provided with the pre-education kit, 3D education chart, a science and maths lab with a working model, a digital planetarium, a future classroom, a false ceiling, multiplay station, and outdoor rubber mat, indoor mat, whiteboard, sports kit and library to the students admitted there.
Moreover, highly qualified teachers, an increase in infrastructure facilities as well as the benefits offered by the government are making parents inclined towards government schools in the state, Administrative Officer of Ahmedabad Municipal school board LD Desai, in the release stated.
For the next sessions also, ahead of fresh admissions, teachers are visiting every area, meeting parents, and explaining the benefits of admission to government schools.
Sujoy Mehta, Chairman of the Ahmedabad Municipal School Board finds that with better infrastructure, technology-based education, well-equipped sports grounds, high-tech teaching classes, hygiene, and qualified teachers government schools are giving private schools tough competition.
Furthermore, even in the current school year, the waiting list at government schools demonstrates the goodwill of government schools, he explained. Despite adding a second section in several schools in recent years, Ahmedabad municipal schools have had a waiting list of more than 200 students.