The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has set a target of enrolling 50,000 new students in its schools within one month as part of a special enrolment campaign. The initiative comes as the civic body seeks to increase student admissions and strengthen the overall functioning of its schools.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the MCD Education Committee on Monday. Education Committee chairman Yogesh Verma directed officials to prepare a special enrolment drive involving teachers, parents, non-governmental organisations and community representatives.
As part of the campaign, teachers have been asked to visit local areas every Saturday and interact directly with families. The door-to-door initiative is intended to inform parents about MCD schools and encourage them to enrol their children.
The Education Department has also been instructed to intensify the School Chalo Abhiyan. The campaign is expected to increase outreach among families in different parts of Delhi and bring more children into the municipal school system.
The MCD has also linked the enrolment initiative with efforts to improve school facilities. Officials have been asked to identify schools that require repair and maintenance work. The areas identified for attention include classrooms, toilets, drinking water facilities and electrical infrastructure.
The civic body has also directed officials to ensure that schools have clean drinking water, hygienic toilets and proper sanitation facilities. These measures are being considered alongside the admission campaign so that the focus remains on both enrolment and school infrastructure.
The MCD Education Committee has also reviewed shortages of sanitation workers and security guards in municipal schools. Officials have been directed to expedite a proposal for the recruitment of around 3,000 posts to address staffing requirements in schools.
Sports facilities are another area included in the MCD's plans. According to reports, the civic body is examining the development of sports infrastructure through the public private partnership model. It is also considering the organisation of an MCD Mini League as part of efforts to provide students with more opportunities in sports.
The enrolment campaign includes a specific recognition mechanism for teachers. Teachers who secure 75 new admissions will be considered for the Nagar Nigam Shikshak Award, according to the civic body's statement. The measure is part of the broader campaign to encourage greater participation in the admission drive.
MCD Education Committee chairman Yogesh Verma said the objective was not simply to increase admission figures. He said the focus should also be on ensuring that children studying in MCD schools receive quality education, basic facilities and opportunities in sports.
The latest initiative comes amid concerns about declining enrolment in MCD schools. The civic body is therefore attempting to reach families directly rather than relying only on conventional admission outreach. The Saturday door-to-door visits are expected to give teachers an opportunity to communicate with parents and explain the educational facilities available in municipal schools.
The involvement of parents, NGOs and community representatives is also intended to expand the reach of the campaign. Local participation could help education officials identify families with school-age children and provide information about the admission process.
At the same time, the MCD's directions on repairs and staffing indicate that the campaign is being accompanied by measures aimed at addressing basic requirements within schools. Improvements to classrooms, toilets, drinking water and electrical systems are expected to form part of the wider effort.
The proposed recruitment of around 3,000 sanitation and security-related staff is another component of the plan. The civic body has asked officials to speed up the proposal in view of shortages reported in municipal schools.
The MCD has therefore combined its one-month admission target with door-to-door outreach, infrastructure improvements, staffing measures and sports initiatives. The immediate target is to secure 50,000 fresh admissions, while the broader objective outlined by the Education Committee is to strengthen the school environment and provide students with basic facilities and educational opportunities.
The campaign will be monitored through the MCD's Education Department, with teachers taking part in weekly local outreach. Further implementation will depend on the civic body's administrative measures and the response from families across Delhi.