Pune Zilla Parishad Establishes Cluster School in Varasgaon Panshet, Fostering Quality Education and Overcoming Challenges

June 16, 2023:  Adhering to the Right to Education Act of 2009, the Zilla Parishad initially operated a primary school in the area. However, with only eight students enrolled from grades 1 to 5 and two teachers, the school faced challenges in providing comprehensive education. Recognizing the need for improved educational opportunities, Pune’s Zilla Parishad has established a Cluster School in Panshet, accommodating 210 students from 13 public schools within a 10-mile radius.

Today marked the auspicious commencement of the Cluster School, as students, adorned in vibrant uniforms, arrived at the premises, setting a cheerful atmosphere for the momentous occasion. Notable attendees included Popat Nalawade, Block Education Officer; Amol Nalawade, Ex-ZP member; Pankaj Patil, Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow and Cluster School Coordinator; Anil Bhandari from Janki Devi Bajaj Gram Sanstha; Sameer More, beat-in-charge; dedicated teachers; and supportive parents.

Patil expressed, “To date, 132 students have enrolled, and we hope more will join in the coming days.”

The establishment of cluster schools aligns with Clause 7 of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes the consolidation of small schools into larger ones to ensure quality education. Among Pune Zilla Parishad’s 3,638 primary schools, 403 currently enrol 150 or more students, collectively educating 50% of the district’s 2.30 lakh students. A scheme worth Rs 96 crores has been developed to meet the needs of these 403 schools.

However, the estimated cost per child in smaller schools is approximately Rs 6.4 lakhs, compared to Rs 90,000/- in larger schools. This disparity arises due to fixed costs such as eLearning resources, which remain consistent regardless of the number of students. Investing in cluster schools becomes imperative to address this issue, as they can provide the necessary infrastructure and educational resources through the National Education Policy.

Pune Zilla Parishad conducted the Fundamental Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) test to gauge educational outcomes, evaluating language proficiency and mathematics skills for classes 1 to 5. The collected data indicated that students from smaller schools generally exhibited lower levels of language and mathematics skills than their larger school counterparts. This disparity was particularly noticeable at level 1, where small school students faced literacy and numeracy challenges.

The establishment of cluster schools aims to overcome these challenges by providing opportunities for peer learning, specialized teachers for subjects like computer programming, arts, and sports, and better school governance facilitated by full-time principals. However, previous attempts to establish cluster schools faced protests fueled by false rumours of the government planning to close schools with fewer than 20 enrolled students. Pune Zilla Parishad’s commitment to implementing the National Education Policy 2020 by establishing a cluster school in Panshet demonstrates persistent efforts to gain stakeholder support. It underscores its dedication to providing quality education.

To ensure the success of the cluster school initiative, Pune Zilla Parishad has collaborated with local leaders, school management committees, and the Janki Devi Bajaj Foundation, renowned for enhancing infrastructure in public schools. These partnerships and providing transportation services through yellow school buses provided by Force Motors have bolstered the project’s credibility and garnered support. Teacher training programs conducted by the District Institutes of Education and Training will equip educators with the necessary skills to teach specialized subjects and cater to the diverse needs of students.