Mumbai: Instead of just 10 per cent of students, now all students of class 4 and 7 enrolled in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run schools across the city will be taken for the annual picnic. The move has come after the civic school management, education committee members and the officials felt that taking only selected students is unfair.
The picnic season will begin in December. Till last year, the corporation took only the rank holders for their annual picnic. “We used to take only the first, second and third rank holders of class 4 and 7, about three to five students from each school,” said an official of the BMC education department. “However, many people have raised issues saying that it is unfair! Although it is true, taking every student from every school is impossible,” the official added. The BMC runs around 1,124 schools in the city.
“We will be taking all the students of class 4 and 7 irrespective of their rank. We will be fair in letting our students enjoy the picnic to the fullest,” said Shubhada Gudekar, chairperson of BMC’s education committee.
The picnic will be arranged ward-wise to make it easier for the officials to manage the event. The city has 24 wards and the division will be such that students of schools in six wards will be taken in one round. About 70,000 students will be taken for the annual picnic this year under this decision. Funded by the BMC, the picnic will be of free of cost for the students.
The committee members while discussing this matter with Ms Gudekar highlighted to consider the safety factors of the students while taking them to the picnic. “The corporation should see if the transport is proper. For example the BEST bus in which the students travel should be properly maintained, with a trustable driver at the wheel. Also, a lady assistant should be present in the bus,” said Sainath Durge, BMC education committee member.
Busting stress
Schools take their students to picnic in the month of December and January as from February; the oral and written examinations begin. Hence, in order to let them relax and get refreshed, they are taken for picnics. It works as a short break for them, reducing their stress levels.
