Even as there is a pressing need to improve the basic infrastructure in public schools to facilitate student learning, an RTI query has revealed that the municipal schools are running short of staff, including officers. Currently, the BMC schools are facing a shortage of 33 per cent from its total sanctioned staff. The BMC’s education department has a yearly budget of `2,472 crore and 4.3 lakh students are studying in the schools run by the civic body, which raises questions as to its capacity to function properly.
An RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali has found that the total sanctioned strength of the staff in BMC schools, including officers is 708, but currently, only 480 staff members are employed in civic schools and there is a vacancy for 228 staff members. He had filed the query to determine the officer responsible for these vacancies. In the reply given by administrative officer of education department, Charulata Pednekar said that BMC education officer, Ravindra R. Bhise is the person responsible for around 121 vacancies. However, Mr Bhise claimed to be ill and refused to comment on the issue.
The RTI reply further stated that 66 posts in A, B, C and D category that have sanctioned posts for 708, had a working staff of only 480 people. Five posts of deputy education officer are also vacant. Likewise, of the 18 posts, around eight posts of superintendents are still vacant.
“More that 80 per cent posts are lying vacant just because Mr Bhise’s negligence. I have dashed off a letter to municipal commissioner, deputy municipal commissioner and other responsible officers towards this apathy shown by the education department,” said Mr Galgali. Additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani could not be reached for comment.