AMC to outsource 7 schools; develop five plots on PPP basis

Aurangabad, Dec 29:

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has okayed a proposal of outsourcing the operation and maintenance of seven schools and development of five primely located plots (reserved for schools) to competent educational societies, on public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The AMC administrator approved the proposal one week ago.

The AMC runs 55 primary and 17 secondary schools (total 72 schools) in the city. Of which, 22 schools are housed in rented buildings. A total of 17,000 students are taking education in these civic schools. Due to apathy of AMC officials, many civic schools got closed and students strength also led to a severe drop. Two years ago, the AMC''s general body (GB) meeting approved a proposal of leasing out non-functioning schools to private educational societies. However, the civic administration recommended the government to scrap the GB''s resolution. The state government had not taken any decision in this regard. Taking advantage of it, the civic administration decided to outsource the closed schools and open spaces.

The AMC administrator A K Pandey approved the proposal on December 21, 2020. According to proposal number 73, due to AMC''s poor financial condition, the civic body cannot repair and maintain the dilapidated condition of many school buildings in a non-functioning state. These properties are meant for educational purpose. Hence, it is mandatory to develop only schools upon them. To get good quality education at low cost to the urban students and is well-maintained property, the proposal recommends rope in partners on PPP mode to construct the building and operate the schools. These seven schools are at Geetanagar, N-9, N-11, Harshanagar, Moti Karanja, Gandhinagar and Railway Station Road.

The proposal to outsource five open spaces, which are reserved for the development of schools, will also be given on a PPP basis. The open spaces include two at Garkheda (3,600 square metres), Harsul (182 square metres), Kanchanwadi (4,450 square metres) and Nakshatrawadi (8,804 square metres).