In a move paralleling the high-quality teacher training initiatives in Delhi government schools, the principals of MCD schools will now undergo school leadership and management training at esteemed institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad and other IIMs. Education Minister Ms. Atishi announced during a press conference on Tuesday that the training for the first batch of 50 MCD school principals would commence on June 29 at IIM Ahmedabad. Delhi Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi, who joined the conference, hailed this as a revolutionary step towards establishing world-class MCD schools in Delhi.
During the press conference, Education Minister Ms. Atishi stated, “Over the past 8 years, a revolution has transformed the education system of Delhi government schools. I firmly believe that once our teachers and principals from MCD schools receive high-quality training, a similar revolution will permeate through the MCD schools, unstoppable and transformative. I am confident that within the next 3-4 years, world-class education will be accessible to every child from Nursery to Class 12 in government schools of Delhi through initiatives like these.”
She further emphasised that education has been the paramount focus of the Kejriwal Government for the past 8 years. Under Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership, the annual financial budget consistently allocates the highest share, 25%, to education—a feat unmatched by any other state in the country. The next highest budget allocation is a mere 14%. The investments made in Delhi’s public education system, including school infrastructure, international teacher training, and curriculum development, have yielded remarkable results. The academic performance of students in Delhi government schools has improved, not only in board examinations but also in competitive exams such as IIT-JEE and NEET. These students now possess innovative ideas and skills. However, a significant challenge faced by the government is the lack of foundational literacy and numeracy skills among students transitioning from MCD schools to Class 6 in Delhi government schools.
Ms. Atishi said, “Over the past 15 years, the education system in MCD schools has been neglected to such an extent that students completing 7 years of education (from nursery to 5th grade) often struggle with basic reading and writing skills. Since the formation of the AAP government in MCD, education has also become a top priority there. To ensure that students receive the highest quality education, it is imperative to provide MCD school teachers with the finest professional development opportunities. In this regard, the premier management training institutes in the country, such as the IIMs, are deemed the best. Today, I am delighted to announce that MCD school principals will also be sent for world-class leadership and management training at IIM Ahmedabad and other esteemed IIMs. The training of the first batch, comprising 50 MCD school principals, will commence on June 29 at IIM Ahmedabad. These principals will be trained by renowned professors in school leadership and management.”
Reiterating her point, Ms. Atishi added, “Over the past 8 years, a revolution has transformed the education system of Delhi government schools, and I believe that once our teachers and principals from MCD schools receive training, a similar revolution will transpire in MCD schools as well and no one can stop it. Within the next 3-4 years, world-class education will be available to every child from Nursery to Class 12 in government schools of Delhi.”
Adding to her words, Delhi Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi remarked, “Education has consistently been a priority for the AAP government, and we aim to replicate the transformative changes witnessed in Delhi government schools over the past 8 years within MCD schools. It is important to note that MCD schools provide primary education to students from nursery to Class 5, which are crucial and formative years. A child who receives quality education during this period will have a strong foundation to continue their education from Class 6-12. Thus, it is crucial for teachers to possess innovative pedagogical skills and for principals to exhibit effective management abilities. Just as teachers and principals in Delhi government schools were trained and revolutionized education in their schools, we are now extending the same training to MCD school teachers and principals. We begin with training at IIMs, and shortly, we envision sending them abroad as well. Their exposure to such high-level training will ensure that MCD schools achieve world-class status, similar to Delhi government schools, in the coming years.”
