Distance dims for education

Updated on: Thursday, December 29, 2011

Of the 750 students who attend the American School of Bombay, at least 300, or 40%, travel all the way from the extreme south or far north of the city to reach school. ASB records show that about 45% of the rest live between Bandra to Juhu. "We do have students who travel more than an hour to get to school," said school superintendent Craig Johnson.

Children in rural areas travel miles simply to reach a school, but kids in urban areas make the trip for the 'right school'. There was a time when school in the city was just a lane down from home. But travel time increased when parents grew 'brand conscious' about the school they sent their children to, and distance never came in the way of making the big choice.

The Dhirubhai Ambani International School, for instance, attracts children from all corners of the city. Chandrakanta Pathak, principal at HBV Academy, Marine Drive, says the school bus service has expanded over time and now children come from as far as Dadar and Worli. "We also have students from distant suburbs who travel by train for over an hour," she added.

"There are few CBSE schools in the suburbs, but some parents are particular about the board they want their children to attend. So we get students from as far as Vasai and Virar in our school," said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal of Rajhans Vidyalay at Andheri (W).

The concept of schools having all facilities under one sky has also picked up. Large campus schools offering everything from horse-riding to squash are also popular. "Since the travel is largely time-consuming, parents prefer sending their children to schools where they get a wide variety of extra curricular activities so they don't have to look at other classes for that," said Vladimir Kuskovski, principal of Oberoi International school.

Huzefa Sheikh, who attends Anjuman-I-Islam travels from Dadar to reach school every day. "It is about going to a good school," she says.

However, under the Right to Education Act, neighbourhood candidates will have to be given the first preference.

Picky parents feel they will be at a loss. "There's not one brilliant school of my choice in Worli. I have to wait till the first round of admission is complete and make a run for the remaining seats, if any," said Aarti Prajapati, mother of a three-year-old currently seeking admission in south Mumbai schools. Prajapati, like many other parents, is more worried about the school's 'branding' than the time it will take the kid to travel to the school.

Times of India

Distance dims for education

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