Deepak Phalekar, who works as an electrician at the Mumbai Port Trust, has enrolled his children, Yukta, a Class VIII student, and Malhar, in Class III, at Wadibunder Mumbai Public School in Mazgaon. His eldest daughter, Arya, studied at a private school in the city, but the frequent and arbitrary fee hikes and hyper commercialisation compelled Phalekar to consider a municipal school for his younger kids. “The learning now happens not only in the classroom, but also beyond its walls. And it’s made education more affordable. As a parent, I see my kids enjoying their time at school,” he tells mid-day. The school is run by non-profit Akanksha Foundation, which uses MCGM infrastructure to provide quality teaching to students from underprivileged communities. Similarly, Aseema, Muktangan and 321 Education Foundation are also successfully running schools in partnership with the MCGM.

The new Pratiksha Nagar BMC School at Sion. The school will start operations after the state’s green signal to reopen primary schools. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar