Pune: The 'Chief Minister My School, Beautiful School' campaign, aimed at improving school environments and fostering a sense of responsibility among students, has seen a concerningly low response from schools in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Out of the 674 schools in the city, only 79 have registered for the initiative, while 595 remain unregistered, according to data released by the Education Department.
The campaign, which entered its second phase, focuses on encouraging schools to create a competitive yet healthy learning environment that motivates students.
Despite these objectives, only 10.79% of the city's primary schools and 12.80% of secondary schools have participated so far. The initiative, running until September 15, aims to transform school campuses, improve infrastructure, and promote extracurricular activities that foster overall development.
According to reports, regions such as Haveli, Bibwewadi, Aundh, Yerawada, Khed, and Mulshi in Pune district have seen a minimal response to the campaign.
In contrast, schools in Baramati, Bhor, Indapur, and Purandar have taken the lead in implementing the project, with higher participation rates among primary schools.
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the Akurdi division registered particularly low participation. Out of 204 primary schools, only 26 have submitted their information online, representing just 10.79%.
Similarly, out of 196 secondary schools, only 26 (13.27%) have registered. The Pimpri division also showed a sluggish response, with only 11 out of 139 primary schools (7.71%) and 16 out of 132 secondary schools (12.12%) registering.
A central-level committee has already begun evaluating the schools that have registered, assessing factors such as campus beautification, infrastructure quality, extracurricular activities like sports and health initiatives, and efforts to promote national integration. The committee will assign grades based on these criteria.
Despite efforts by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's Education Department to encourage schools to participate, including circulars and outreach through subject experts, the campaign's reach has been limited.
Administrative Officer Sangeeta Bangar expressed concerns about the low registration numbers, urging more schools to get involved before the September 15 deadline.
Participation Data (as of September 4):
Akurdi Division:
Total primary schools: 204
Total secondary schools: 196
Registered primary schools: 26 (12.75%)
Registered secondary schools: 26 (13.27%)
Pimpri Division:
Total primary schools: 139
Total secondary schools: 132
Registered primary schools: 11 (7.91%)
Registered secondary schools: 16 (12.12%)
Despite the ambitious goals of the 'Chief Minister My School, Beautiful School' campaign, which aims to enhance student engagement and improve school environments, the low participation rate in Pimpri-Chinchwad remains a challenge for local authorities.