The Signal School, inaugurated by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Monday, has been established under the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road flyover near Amar Mahal in Chembur
Pic/BMC
In a significant step towards inclusive education, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with the Mumbai Suburban District Collector’s Office and Samarth Bharat Vyaspeeth, has launched the city’s first “Signal School” initiative aimed at bringing homeless, migrant, and out-of-school children into the formal education system.
School set up under Chembur flyover
The Signal School, inaugurated by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Monday, has been established under the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road flyover near Amar Mahal in Chembur. The initiative builds on similar projects successfully implemented in Thane and Nerul by the Samarth Bharat Vyaspeeth.
Mayor Tawde expressed optimism that the initiative would not only transform lives but also become a point of interest for visitors to Mumbai in the future.
Focus on holistic development
The school goes beyond basic education, offering facilities such as vocational training, small-scale industry exposure, culinary training, robotics, science, and computer labs. Activity-based learning materials tailored for the initiative were also unveiled during the inauguration.
Officials highlighted that the model is designed to address not just educational gaps, but also the social, economic, and psychological challenges faced by children living on the streets or under flyovers.
Bringing children into the mainstream
Speaking at the event, Mayor Tawde noted that integrating out-of-school children into mainstream education is a challenging task but essential for long-term social development. She praised the organisation’s efforts, stating that similar initiatives over the past two decades have helped produce professionals, engineers, and sportspersons.
She added that the BMC will conduct a survey across Mumbai to identify locations where such schools are needed, particularly near traffic signals and flyovers, and ensure proper arrangements, especially during the monsoon season.
Support needed from all sections
Emphasising the importance of collective responsibility, the Mayor called for support from government bodies, civic authorities, and society at large to sustain and expand such initiatives. She also urged parents to enrol their children in these schools.
Backing from administration and government
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Education) Dr. Prachi Jambeikar stated that the project, supported financially by the Mumbai Suburban District Collector and backed by the BMC, aims to provide education, nutrition, technological exposure, and mental support to vulnerable children, enabling their transition into municipal schools.
Samarth Bharat Vyaspeeth CEO Bhatu Sawant noted that migrant and nomadic families often lack access to flexible education systems, making initiatives like Signal Schools crucial. He added that financial assistance through the District Planning Fund helped set up the infrastructure, including containers used for classrooms.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by civic officials, public representatives, local citizens, students, and parents, marking a collaborative step towards inclusive and accessible education in Mumbai.
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