The student strength has recorded a drastic fall from 76,000 in 1992-93 to 59,383 on August 31 this year. But that is not to say the 16,000-odd students have dropped out of school altogether: most have switched to the proliferating private schools in search of better standards of education.

Sure, the private schools charge fees, but those who can would rather spend Rs 90 or so more per month for the assurance their children are learning the basics. Points out Jyotika Sharma, who took her son out of a civic school and admitted him into a private one, ``Homework is hardly checked, so children take studies lightly. Private education costs me money but rather that than a meaningless free exercise''.

Her son Dhaval joins in, ``Teachers in the sarkari schools came and went at their own will. Even if the students used bad language, they never bothered to object''.

Class V student Chirag Gandhi, who attends a private school now after going to a civic school, alleges that civic teachers actually passed on the answers to students during examinations. ``Although the standards in my new school are much higher, it will stand me in better stead'', he says.

Their validity of their complaints is borne out by students like Nilam Panchal, a class IV student of a municipal school, who cannot read the numbers from 1 to 100. Her mother, who works as a domestic help, is aware of the shortcomings of free education, but simply cannot afford to consider the private option.

The lackadaisical attitude of civic schools is further indicated by the fact that there are no periods demarcated for various subjects between classes I and IV. Moreover, promotion is class I and II is based on attendance, rather than performance.

Municipal School Board member Shankerlal Trivedi, however, will have none of the criticism. ``Have to dhoran tran ane charna vidyarthione vanchta ane lakhata avde chhe (Now even students of class III and class IV can read and write)'', he says grandly, seemingly unaware of the irony of his statement.

With a stance like this, it should surprise few that steps like the vali meetings (meetings with parents), designated to encourage parents to admit children into municipal schools, have met with no response. Trivedi also agrees that despite massive expenditure, they have have not had the desired results.

The civic schools, incidentally, have an annual budget of Rs 30 crores, 80 per cent of which comes from the State government and 20 per cent from the VMC.

Official sources say efforts have been made to improve the civic schools' standards. But the methods employed leave a lot to be desired. For instance, sources say, teachers were threatened with disciplinary action if any student was found to be weak in any subject.

If one discounts these efforts, the Municipal School Board, however, has not undertaken any constructive effort to discover the reasons for the exodus or ways to reverse the trend. All that in-charge administrative officer Vinubhai Parekh will say in self-defence is, ``The phenomenon is not restricted to Vadodara; it is present in other parts of the State as well''.

However, a Board officer says on condition of anonymity that parents opt for private schools as it's easier then to get admission in the higher secondary section. He does not mention the fact that the 7,000-odd class VII graduates of municipal schools face tremendous problems getting admission into class VIII each year because of their low standards.

That the mushrooming private schools have played a role in siphoning students from municipal institutions is evident from the fact that the strength has been most affected in the heart of the city, where the concentration of private schools is the highest. The scene is just the opposite in the peripheries; on Ajwa Road, for instance, 1,600 students are bundled into one room of a civic school.

While Board chairman Kishan Sheth was not available for comments, official sources say they have often requested the State government not to clear private schools without the Board's okay. The government hasn't paid any heed to the request; even District Education Officer V B Nanavati says there's no need for the State government to seek the Board's approval before clearing schools.

So, unless the municipal schools clear up their act fast, their downward spin seems unlikely to be disturbed.