Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to launch teacher training programs aimed at improving the quality of education in municipal schools. These initiatives will be conducted through regional education conferences, where teachers will receive guidance on enhancing student learning outcomes. However, if student performance continues to decline, teachers will be held accountable for the lack of improvement.

ASER Report Raises Concerns Over Student Performance

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), published in January, has highlighted serious educational challenges in Pune. The report reveals that:

• 40% of students in Grades 6 to 8 struggle with division and basic mathematics.

• Many students fail to recognize letters or numbers up to 99.

• Half of the students aged 5 to 16 have difficulty solving arithmetic problems.

• Enrollment in government schools has been declining, with an increase in smartphone usage among students.

PMC’s Plan to Address the Issue

Despite PMC allocating significant funds to education annually, learning outcomes have not seen the expected improvement. To address this, Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B.P. chaired a meeting with education department officials, emphasizing the need for immediate corrective measures.

To enhance teaching standards, regional-level education conferences will be organized where teachers will be trained in effective teaching strategies. The Additional Commissioner himself will monitor these sessions to ensure their success.

“The municipal corporation invests heavily in education, and it is unacceptable if student performance does not improve. Teachers will be trained on best practices, but if results remain unsatisfactory, accountability will be enforced,” said Prithviraj B.P.

The initiative aims to ensure that students receive a higher standard of education, improving their fundamental learning skills and academic performance.