SDMC schools witnessed heavy fall in enrollment numbers this year

SDMC schools witnessed heavy fall in enrollment numbers this year

From past some year, enrollment numbers in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) schools for primary classes are falling and the situation this year is no different. This year, according to the figures released by the civic body, the enrollment numbers fall even further by 17,535. The number of students enrolled in 2017-18 are 2,48,297 in contrast to the 2,65,832 students in the year 2016-17. The enrollment numbers were 2,76,901, 2,93,436, 3,02,832, and 3,20,688 in 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, and 2012-13 respectively. These schools offer education up to standard 5th and enrollments for the Nursery class have shown considerable rise in 2017-18. A senior SDMC official said, “Although facilities have been increased in corporation schools; ever since the Delhi government schools began admitting students Nursery onwards, parents prefer to get their wards admitted to government schools as they want them to complete their education from one institution only.” He also said that the students-teacher ration is poor in the corporation schools. “Private schools are also admitting students from EWS/DG category under the RTE Act, taking away a share of students who would earlier take admission in MCD schools,” the official said. From the past two years, SDMC has started several initiatives to address the issue of declining enrollment rate in the schools by including smart classes, better desks etc. It has also taken several new measures such as extra classes, computer classes, English lessons and holding street plays.