Children dropping out due to distance from alternate institute; family changes three schools in three years
Sonali Dabhade and Razia Shaikh with their children outside their residence at Matunga’s Labour Camp. PIC/ADITI ALURKAR
The closure of numerous civic schools across the city has been more than just an inconvenience. Dharavi resident Reshma Shaikh would send her two children — an 11-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter — to the New Mahim School, which was a 15-minute walk from her house. “My children’s admission was directly transferred to the Kapad Bazaar School earlier this year, after the school was declared dangerous. Now, it is a 30-45 minute walk one way to the new school,” said Reshma.
Missing out
Owing to the long distance and her chores at home, Reshma claims that she typically sends her children to school only twice or thrice a week. “Now, I am in the sixth month of my third pregnancy. My health does not allow me to walk as much, and I don’t think I can manage to send my children to school anymore. We are going to our native village for 15 days, after returning, I might get them out of school,” she told mid-day.
New Mahim School, which has been declared a dangerous structure; (right) Sion Mumbai Public School. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Not far away, at Matunga’s Labour Camp, Sonal Dabhade has been worried about the education of her three children — an 8-year-old son, an 11-year-old daughter, and 12-year-old son — who were all enrolled in BMC-run Marathi schools.
School-hopping
Her eldest began his school journey at a civic-run Marathi school at Matunga’s Labour Camp. “The school was very short-staffed, and teachers would almost never show up for class. A single teacher would have to teach three classes, and, in fact, it was a few officials from the school who suggested that the New Mahim Marathi School was a better alternative,” said Sonal.
After the 12-year-old completed his Std V exams, he was shifted to New Mahim Marathi School along with his siblings. They spent one year studying at New Mahim until Sonal was told that this school was to shut down, too, for repairs. Once again, the older children were moved to a Sion-based civic school, which is nearly 2 km away from Sonal’s residence.
“My youngest son, who was in Std II, was initially assigned to the Mahim Police Colony School. However, that school appeared to be run-down and managing the commute was difficult, so I had to make my youngest one switch schools again. He now studies at the Sion school too,” Sonal said. This is how the three younglings ended up changing three schools within three years.
Impossible without help
Working as a housemaid, Sonal finds it difficult after a day of chores to walk all the way to get her children. But between daily wage and education, neither can be compromised. However, to her aid comes her neighbour, Razia Shaikh, who takes turns with picking and dropping off children.
Razia sent her daughter to the Mori Road semi-English medium school until 2020. However, after being informed that the school was being demolished, her daughter, who was in Std IV, was moved to New Mahim Marathi School. After four years of education there, New Mahim was demolished too, and now she studies at the Sion-based civic school.
“We cannot use buses as they are never on time, and we have household responsibilities to manage too. Had I known that this would be the fate of the school, I would have enrolled my daughter elsewhere to begin with,” Razia said.
Official Speak
“Administrative officers are looking into the matter. Our Marathi-medium schools in Dharavi and neighbouring areas can accommodate these students, even mid-year. We are collecting data on students who have been attending school intermittently, and I am looking forward to proposals of secondary students who need a bus arranged, so we can work on the same,” said Education Officer Sujata Khare.
Expert Speak
“Students who are suffering are already underprivileged. Giving them hope and taking it away can make them feel more insecure, while damaging their relationship with education itself. In future, when they are actually attending a stable school, they may end up being more careless because of their past experience,” said Dr Naazneen Ladak, a consulting psychiatrist.
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