Private troubles

Several private schools are flouting the 33 per cent pass percentage criterion set by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The schools include Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27 and Vivek High School, Sector 38. In Bhavan, the overall pass percentage is 50 and students need to score 40 per cent in each subject. In Vivek High School, the pass percentage is 40. Says Meenakshi Mohindra, principal, Bhavan Vidyalaya, “We have maintained the 50 per cent criterion ever since we started. It has been decided by our committee. With higher pass percentage we ensure better academic growth and there is nothing wrong in it”. The CBSE clearly mentions that affiliated schools need to follow the 33 per cent criterion. no action has been initiated against the defaulters.

...and in government schools

Most of them are facing infrastructure-related problems. Last year, after the administration closed down private schools running from residential areas, government schools got overburdened as they lack the required infrastructure to handle so many students. Even after a year, the Education Department has not been able to adequately equip these schools for the extra load. There are a few government schools where there is only seat for two students. Then there are schools which have extra seats but no rooms.

Said Director Public Instructions (Schools), S K Setia, “We have already placed an order for furniture. Government schools are expected to acquire a completely new look from the next academic session”. Setia, however, has no answer for the present problems.

Grading system

The grading system introduced by the CBSE has gone for a toss in both private and government schools. Though it has been over a year since the system was introduced up to class V, schools in the city have yet to implement it. The aim of starting a grading system was to do away with the fail-pass criterion but nothing has been done as of now. Schools in Delhi are now ready to implement this system for secondary classes.

No privilege for the Underprivileged

Most of the schools in the city are not following the 15 per cent reservation scheme for children from Economically Weaker Sections of the society. Schools like Manav Mangal School, Sector 21 and Strawberry Fields World School, Sector 26 have only three students under this category, while Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sector 27 has only one student. School authorities say they don’t receive enough applications from such students. Schools are now asking parents of other children to sponsor a child each for a year.

Teacher-student ratio

According to CBSE guidelines, the teacher-student ratio should be 1:40. In some government as well as private schools, teachers have to take care of three times this number. The aggregate student-teacher ratio in GSSS, Sector 45 and Shri Guru Harkrishan Model School is 1:130.

Commercial angle