GURUGRAM: At least 2,000 students have switched to government schools from private schools in Gurgaon district this session, according to the district elementary education officer. This has happened on account of various reasons, including affordability. Students who have transferred claimed that government schools were providing almost all facilities available in private schools at much lower costs.Annual fee hike in private schools was cited as one of the key reasons for which students turned to government schools. Jyoti Kumari, who studies in Class VI and has come from Divya Vidya Niketan School, Mohammadpur, said, “My parents put me in a government school because in private schools, the fee is hiked every year.”Besides, she said, government school teachers gave more attention to students. “Teachers give us extra time and attention — we are sometimes called to school during holidays to study — which is not the case in private schools,” said Kumari.A wide range of books in the school library and bigger playgrounds were other reasons that students, who have transferred to government schools, cited as positives. Nitish Verma, a Class VI student who has joined Government Senior Secondary School, Jharsa, from Shiv Public Senior Secondary School, Sohna, said, “The library here is far better — we have all types of books.”Sachin Khatana, a Class X student of Government Senior Secondary School, Abheypur, said, “I had been studying in New Shaheed Smarak Public School, Abheypur, since kindergarten. The school didn’t have facilities such as a proper playground or co-circular activities for students. Last year, when I visited my friend in this school, I saw students playing on two big playgrounds.”Sushma Dalal, teacher of the Abheypur government school, said, “As many as 40 students who were studying in private schools have come to our school, this year. One of the reasons is teachers are regular and take pains to ensure every child learns the lesson.”Premlata Yadav, district elementary education officer, said, “Students of government schools are now getting good results and people realise that the quality of education has improved.”

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