BMC teachers measure shoe sizes as exams loom

The shoes are part of 27 free items given by the Civic Body, including textbooks, notebooks, which were supposed to have arrived in May, but have been delayed

BMC teachers measure shoe sizes as exams loom

The shoes are part of 27 free items given by the Civic Body, including textbooks, notebooks, which were supposed to have arrived in May, but have been delayed

WHILE teachers in private schools in the city are busy completing the first semester syllabus for the exams next month, their counterparts in BMC schools are occupied with measuring students' shoe sizes literally.

The shoes are one of the 27 items that are given to students free by the civic body and teachers and kids alike are eagerly waiting for the freebies, which have been delayed considerably, to arrive.

Teachers say it is difficult for them to complete the portion without all the proper notebooks and textbooks and students say they get wet without raincoats all three of which are part of the 27.

The schools usually get all the freebies for distribution latest by June, but, this time, they haven't been dispatched by the BMC yet.

BMC school teacher Sachin Shirke (name changed) said, "If the 27 items reach so late, it will result in a delay in the completion of the portion.

At the time of distribution, teachers get busy checking student's shoe sizes and getting ill-fitting shoes replaced. How are we supposed to complete the syllabus when the exams are next month?"

Nasir Shaikh, vice-president, Brihanmumbai Mahapalika Shikshak Sabha, said, "The company sends the shoes based on the standard the students are in.
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At least 15 per cent of the students complain about the shoe sizes and then we have to send the ill-fitting ones to other classes to see if they fit students there. All this takes at least 3-4 days.

"The BMC was supposed to send the 27 items by the last week of May or by June, but they haven't reached us yet because the budget was passed late. We are still waiting for all the textbooks to arrive."

The Other Side
Abasaheb Jadhav, BMC education officer, said, "The tender went late as it took a little time to decide who it should be awarded to. The students have already been given notebooks and some textbooks and the rest of the items will reach by end of this week."