Nagpur: In a first-of-its-kind move, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has transferred the management of seven of its schools to private agencies under a 20-year public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. While the civic body will provide infrastructure, funding, and basic facilities, private partners will handle teaching, administration, and day-to-day operations.
The decision comes in the backdrop of declining enrolment and closures in NMC schools. Over the last five years, 41 civic-run schools have shut down, and admissions dropped by 10–20% in the previous academic year. Civic officials admitted that parents increasingly prefer affordable private schools over municipal institutions.
Officials said the new PPP model aims to restore faith in civic education by offering English-medium instruction, modern amenities, and professional management. The seven schools selected are located across different parts of the city, including Nara, Bastarwari, Ajni Nagar, Dhantoli, Dabha, Somwari Quarters, and Cotton Market.
Under the plan, NMC will provide land, buildings, textbooks, uniforms, and midday meals on a quarterly basis. The private agencies will recruit principals, teachers, counsellors, and staff, maintaining a 1:30 teacher-student ratio (maximum 40 per class). Beginning from junior KG, one new class will be added each year up to Class X, with special coaching in Classes VIII and X.
Each school will be equipped with smart classrooms, science labs, libraries, auditoriums, playgrounds, and facilities for arts and music. Students will also have access to counselling, health checkups, Olympiad preparation, NCC training, and leadership programmes. The curriculum will follow the State Board or CBSE framework, with room to integrate reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Accountability has been built into the model—private operators must ensure dropout rates remain below 2.5% and attendance above 75%. Repeated poor exam results will attract penalties. Performance will be monitored annually by the NMC as well as third-party auditors.
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