NMC Eyes CBSE Shift, Yet Students Still Barefoot Thousands of students in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) schools continue to attend classes barefoot despite the academic session having begun, as the civic body delays providing footwear and socks. The issue has sparked concerns about the quality of education in civic-run schools, even as the NMC pushes forward with plans to modernize its educational infrastructure. At a recent special meeting of the education committee, NMC chairperson Santosh Laddha directed officials to submit a proposal to the state government for shifting NMC schools to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum. The committee also approved plans to establish two English-medium schools in every Assembly constituency, upgrade 21 semi-English schools into smart schools equipped with modern laboratories and computer facilities, and launch special coaching classes for Class X students with NGO support. However, the procurement of basic necessities like shoes and socks for students remains unresolved. Under the state’s scheme, each student is entitled to one pair of shoes and two pairs of socks, with 170 sanctioned per student. NMC has 11,924 students across 113 primary schools and 28 high schools and junior colleges, requiring nearly 21 lakh rupees to procure footwear. Despite assurances from the education department that uniforms and textbooks reached students before the session started, the procurement of shoes and socks has stalled due to delayed fund releases. The delay has raised questions about the prioritization of resources in civic-run schools, particularly in Nagpur, the hometown of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari.#nitin_gadkari #devendra_fadnavis #central_board_of_secondary_education #nagpur_municipal_corporation #santosh_laddha
