The practice of teachers simultaneously lecturing multiple standard classes and conducting parallel lessons has become routine in several schools across the state. While activists have raised concerns about the quality of teaching under this system, these so-called ‘jod-varga’ (combined classrooms) remain as per norms. A jod-varga is when a single teacher handles full school hours for students from two or more grades at the same time. The practice stems from falling student enrolments and delays in teacher allotments.

At a Mumbai Public School, activists allege they have seen one teacher managing as many as four grades at once, with just over 20 students in the classroom. “I have seen the blackboard divided into columns, each dedicated to a different grade, from Std I to IV. The teacher teaches Std I while assigning writing or reading tasks to others, then moves on to Std II, then IV, and so on,” said Pranali Raut, a citizen activist.

Just a few kilometres away, another civic school has one teacher juggling Std I and II together, while another manages Std III and IV in the adjoining room. Although the combined student strength is under 30, the syllabus still differs. “The students learn in an overlapping manner. At times, even younger students recite poems meant for the higher grade. While children are coping for now, the system places immense pressure on teachers already stretched to capacity,” a school source told mid-day.