Mumbai opens first ‘Signal School’ to educate street children

Children aged 4 to 14 attend mixed classes to bridge years of learning gaps, many balancing school with helping their families sell goods at traffic signals. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Beneath the constant roar of traffic at Amar Mahal junction, where children once weaved between cars selling wares, Mumbai has quietly launched its first ‘Signal School', pulling 40 street children into classrooms.

Formally inaugurated this week by the city's mayor, the Chembur school marks Mumbai's entry into a model already tested in Thane and Nerul, where NGOs have worked to bridge the gap between survival and schooling for children growing up at traffic signals.

A small reading space introduces first-generation learners to books

Run by Samarth Bharat Vyaspeeth, the school targets children aged 5 to 13, many of whom still split time between education and earning on the streets.

Mumbai chapter

Bhatu Sawant, head of Samarth Bharat Vyaspeeth, on what makes Mumbai different

The biggest challenge

>> Convincing parents is harder in Mumbai. Children here earn more by hawking at signals, which makes families reluctant to give up a steady income for 10 to 12 years of schooling.
>> "We have to do far more counselling. Once we explain changing times and show them the school, they usually agree."

Why Amar Mahal flyover

>> The location was driven by both space and need.
>> Large usable area under the flyover
>> High concentration of children in need
>> A survey earlier found 103 children living under the bridge who required schooling. With SCLR work and repairs, they have since dispersed across nearby areas but continue to come from there.

Scope for expansion

Just outside the school, abandoned vehicles and littered alcohol bottles highlight contrast between the controlled classroom environment and its surrounding conditions

>> The model can scale across Mumbai.
>> Potential locations: Worli, Andheri, Kandivali, Mira Road, Goregaon
>> "The space and the demographic exist."

Why Amar Mahal flyover

>> The location was driven by both space and need.
>> Large usable area under the flyover
>> High concentration of children in need
>> A survey earlier found 103 children living under the bridge who required schooling.

Voices from the classroom

Tannu Kale, 11
"Earlier I travelled with my father all day. Now I come to school and go to the garden in the evening. Marathi and singing are my favourite."

Satyam Paswan, 12
"My parents work at construction and food packaging. I like cricket, counting numbers and learning Marathi."

Who these children are

>> Children of street vendors selling flowers, garlands, umbrellas, and lanterns
>> Many assist parents at signals, especially during festivals
>> Some live near stations, bridges, or in slum clusters
>> "During weekends or festive seasons, many still go back to selling at signals," teachers told mid-day.