Pune: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is set to open a new CBSE school in the Wakad area, aimed at providing free quality education to students from economically weaker sections.
The six-story school building is nearing completion, and the institution is expected to begin operations in the 2025-26 academic year. This initiative is a significant step in fulfilling the aspirations of families seeking CBSE-standard education at no cost.
Expansion of Municipal English Medium Schools
In recent years, there has been a significant shift in parental preference toward English medium education. This has impacted the enrollment in municipal Marathi medium schools. To address this, PCMC launched English medium schools under the PCMC Public Schools initiative, which saw a good response. Building on this success, PCMC is now introducing CBSE schools to cater to growing demand.
Currently, the city has only one municipal CBSE school, the Santpeeth School in Chikhali, which was established in 2021. The upcoming Wakad CBSE school will be the second such initiative by PCMC and will offer education to students from junior KG to grade six in its initial phase.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The new school will feature modern amenities, including:
Waiting rooms
Sports rooms
Music and dance rooms
Art and craft rooms
Language and science laboratories
A library
A counseling room
A control room
Elevator facilities
The school is being constructed as per CBSE norms, with a capacity to accommodate 2,500 students across six floors. Each floor will have specialized classrooms to ensure a holistic learning environment.
Teacher Training and Preparation
Teachers at the Wakad CBSE school will receive training aligned with CBSE board requirements to deliver quality education. Construction is in the final stages, and furniture is being installed in some classrooms.
Sangeeta Bangar, an administrative officer from the education department, stated, "We are finalizing plans for the new school under the guidance of PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh." Former municipal corporator Rahul Kalate, who took the initiative to establish the school, added, "The building adheres to CBSE guidelines, and facilities have been provided on every floor. An existing municipal school nearby will also be relocated to this new facility."
