PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Standing Committee on Tuesday gave approval to the proposal of merging Marathi medium schools that run in the same building in different shifts. 22 schools are being shortlisted and after the merger, there will be 11 schools. 

The PMC runs 186 Marathi medium schools in the city, of which 22 were found with less student-teacher ratio, less students, no principals (in some cases) and missing of school by the students.

PMC Education Officer (Primary) Meenakshi Raut explained that this merger will sort the issue of shortage of teachers in some schools. In many schools, there are very few students for whom adequate teachers are not available.

In such a case, one teacher ends up teaching all subjects. Merger will ensure all students get qualified teachers for every subject and they do not skip school. 

Standing Committee Chairman Hemant Rasane said, “The merger will increase student-teacher ratio. Also, the PMC will save expenditure on operating different schools. Several schools are lined for this merger -- eight in Wanawadi, four in Bibvewadi, four on Dhole Patil Road, two near Vishrambaugwada and four in Vishrantwadi. After the merger many students will attend regularly as there will be common school hours.”

The merging school will be in operation from the next academic year, said Rasane.

HIKE IN REVENUE
Standing Committee Chairman Hemant Rasane formed a ‘Revenue Committee’ and tasked them with  increasing PMC’s revenue by Rs 1,000 crore for the next financial year. He said, “No tax will be increased on the source of income. From the existing source, the PMC will ensure to generate as much revenue as possible.”

Officials from various departments will be included in the body, said Rasane.