BENGALURU: While schools have reopened for regular, on-campus classes, mobile schools run by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), aimed at conducting bridge classes for children who are out of school, are yet to hit the road.
However, officials say they will resume operations from March 1.
The BBMP had converted old buses into mobile units to take school lessons virtually to the doorsteps of children. Ten buses were deputed across the eight zones – one zone had two extra buses due to the higher number of out-of-school children. The buses began operating from November 1, 2021.
BBMP data accessed by TOI shows there were 450 admissions when the project began, and the number was inching up towards the 500 mark when the third wave of Covid-19 infections hit. Mobile schools too were closed, putting a spoke in B BMP’s plans.
With infections ebbing, schools reopened a week ago, but mobile units are yet to hit the road. Parents who used to send their children to these schools and head to work are now helpless and worried for their wards’ future.
“As a construction labourer, I am worried for my child’s future and would want him to be educated. These mobile schools were a blessing for us, but surprisingly they have not resumed yet, which is worrisome,” said Kanthakka L, who works at a construction site in East Zone.
Another parent, Rojamma Sankara, a domestic help, said: “These schools were operating for half-a-day and this would help us go to work. We did not have to worry since our children were being educated and were safe. But now it has stopped.
“She added: “Our children need to be on par with other children and we want mobile schools to start soon.”
A senior education department official said many exciting programs were taken up at these mobile schools, including yoga, physical exercises, rhymes, shloka classes, and basic education.
B Shankar Reddy Babu, special commissioner (education), BBMP, admitted that uncertainties resulting from the pandemic were the reason these mobile schools have not started again, but they will resume operations by March 1.
“In a month, we will identify students who are eligible to be admitted into regular schools, teach them, conduct a test and promote them accordingly. We will then absorb them into regular BBMP schools,” Reddy told TOI.
However, officials say they will resume operations from March 1.
The BBMP had converted old buses into mobile units to take school lessons virtually to the doorsteps of children. Ten buses were deputed across the eight zones – one zone had two extra buses due to the higher number of out-of-school children. The buses began operating from November 1, 2021.
BBMP data accessed by TOI shows there were 450 admissions when the project began, and the number was inching up towards the 500 mark when the third wave of Covid-19 infections hit. Mobile schools too were closed, putting a spoke in B BMP’s plans.
With infections ebbing, schools reopened a week ago, but mobile units are yet to hit the road. Parents who used to send their children to these schools and head to work are now helpless and worried for their wards’ future.
“As a construction labourer, I am worried for my child’s future and would want him to be educated. These mobile schools were a blessing for us, but surprisingly they have not resumed yet, which is worrisome,” said Kanthakka L, who works at a construction site in East Zone.
Another parent, Rojamma Sankara, a domestic help, said: “These schools were operating for half-a-day and this would help us go to work. We did not have to worry since our children were being educated and were safe. But now it has stopped.
“She added: “Our children need to be on par with other children and we want mobile schools to start soon.”
A senior education department official said many exciting programs were taken up at these mobile schools, including yoga, physical exercises, rhymes, shloka classes, and basic education.
B Shankar Reddy Babu, special commissioner (education), BBMP, admitted that uncertainties resulting from the pandemic were the reason these mobile schools have not started again, but they will resume operations by March 1.
“In a month, we will identify students who are eligible to be admitted into regular schools, teach them, conduct a test and promote them accordingly. We will then absorb them into regular BBMP schools,” Reddy told TOI.
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