Navi Mumbai: The village name Gagode Budruk, in Pen taluka of Raigad district, might not initially ring a bell. But, after getting to know that this is the birthplace of the Gandhian freedom fighter, Vinoba Bhave, who had started the Bhoodan land donation movement, one is compelled to appreciate its history.
For six days, social activist Sandeep Patil (40), had undertaken a satyagraha protest inside the house-turned-museum of Vinoba Bhave here in order to raise awareness about the shutdown of primary schools in Raigad district, including 17 in Pen taluka.
On Wednesday, a peaceful ‘Pen Bandh’ was also observed by the local citizens on this subject. While state education officials were not available for comment, in a recent matter in the Bombay High Court related to the creation of cluster schools, the govt had submitted that ‘no policy decision was taken to create cluster schools where small govt-run schools would be merged with bigger ones in the vicinity’. The govt, instead, in the CM’s 100-day plan for the school education department, had mentioned that the emphasis now will be on strengthening the infrastructure and improving support at model schools, which will now be called CM Shri schools.
The Pen locals have questioned why the rural primary schools have already shut down with no policy in place.
Talking to TOI, Patil said: “The new education policy is slowly being implemented, beginning with Raigad district where 300 primary schools have shut down, including 17 in Pen. The reason for closure is a low student population of less than 20. The govt wants such schools to close down and shift the students to another school where the student numbers are higher. However, this can have a drastic effect on the students and the parents.”
He further reasoned: “The poor Katkari adivasi (tribal) students get their basic education for free in such primary schools. But, if their school shuts down, the parents may not send them to another school which is 5 to 10 km away. This can lead to dropouts.” The primary school at adjoining village of Gagode Khurd has already closed down, he said. The deputy collector based in Pen, Pravin Pawar, who personally met Sandeep Patil at his satyagraha site on Tuesday, told TOI: “After meeting Patil, I assured him that his demands will be forwarded to the senior education officers who are looking into this policy.”
Another Raigad-based activist Vaishali Patil of Ankur Trust, said that Raigad district has 12% of tribal population, which mainly includes the ‘particularly vulnerable tribal group’ of Katkari adivasis. “I know some tribal families who send their children to govt aided schools only for the midday meals. Hence, any changes made due to the new policy may force some students to stop their critical education process,” said Vaishali Patil.
Navi Mumbai: The village name Gagode Budruk, in Pen taluka of Raigad district, might not initially ring a bell. But, after getting to know that this is the birthplace of the Gandhian freedom fighter, Vinoba Bhave, who had started the Bhoodan land donation movement, one is compelled to appreciate its history.
For six days, social activist Sandeep Patil (40), had undertaken a satyagraha protest inside the house-turned-museum of Vinoba Bhave here in order to raise awareness about the shutdown of primary schools in Raigad district, including 17 in Pen taluka.
On Wednesday, a peaceful ‘Pen Bandh’ was also observed by the local citizens on this subject. While state education officials were not available for comment, in a recent matter in the Bombay High Court related to the creation of cluster schools, the govt had submitted that ‘no policy decision was taken to create cluster schools where small govt-run schools would be merged with bigger ones in the vicinity’. The govt, instead, in the CM’s 100-day plan for the school education department, had mentioned that the emphasis now will be on strengthening the infrastructure and improving support at model schools, which will now be called CM Shri schools.
The Pen locals have questioned why the rural primary schools have already shut down with no policy in place.
Talking to TOI, Patil said: “The new education policy is slowly being implemented, beginning with Raigad district where 300 primary schools have shut down, including 17 in Pen. The reason for closure is a low student population of less than 20. The govt wants such schools to close down and shift the students to another school where the student numbers are higher. However, this can have a drastic effect on the students and the parents.”
He further reasoned: “The poor Katkari adivasi (tribal) students get their basic education for free in such primary schools. But, if their school shuts down, the parents may not send them to another school which is 5 to 10 km away. This can lead to dropouts.” The primary school at adjoining village of Gagode Khurd has already closed down, he said. The deputy collector based in Pen, Pravin Pawar, who personally met Sandeep Patil at his satyagraha site on Tuesday, told TOI: “After meeting Patil, I assured him that his demands will be forwarded to the senior education officers who are looking into this policy.”
Another Raigad-based activist Vaishali Patil of Ankur Trust, said that Raigad district has 12% of tribal population, which mainly includes the ‘particularly vulnerable tribal group’ of Katkari adivasis. “I know some tribal families who send their children to govt aided schools only for the midday meals. Hence, any changes made due to the new policy may force some students to stop their critical education process,” said Vaishali Patil.