Sixty-six Students Shine from the Pune Municipal Corporations Vidyaniketan Schools
Sixty-six students from the Pune Municipal Corporations (PMC)
Vidyaniketan schools have found a place in the 2011 state scholarship merit list
for the urban segment.
Vidyaniketans form part of the PMC's scheme of special schools for academically
brilliant students who come from the economically backward classes.
In an official press statement issued on Tuesday 21st June, the civic school board
said this is the highest number of students from Vidyaneketans in last three years.
In 2009 and 2010, 16 students made it to the merit list. These are students from
humble family background who have proved their talent. Compared to the students
in private schools this success story stands different, said the civic board officials.
Often referred to as the cream of civic schools, Vidyaniketans have evolved into
a fairly successful model in public funded school education. What makes these schools
click is the slew of incentives to students and teachers alike. For instance, special
uniforms and study materials like textbooks, school bags etc and free PMT bus passes
for students living at distant places. The effort gets consistently reflected in
the fair number of students featuring among top scorers in the scholarship exams,
stated school board officials.
Meanwhile, the PMC has decided to rope in NGOs to facilitate preparations
of the PMC secondary school children for competitive exams. Standing committee chairman
Ganesh Bidkar recently told reporters that the civic body has made a budgetary provision
of Rs. 50 lakh for preparing students for competitive exams. The PMC wants to encourage
civic school students to perform well in competitive exams. Majority of them come
from lower middle class and despite having talent don't fare well in competitive
exams because of lack of guidance. Once the PMC starts guiding them with help of
NGOs, these students will definitely make a mark in exams said Bidkar. The standing
committee approved the proposal unanimously.
Courtesy: Times of India
