August 13, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with Sampark Foundation, launched the ‘Smart School-Smart Block’ programme on Tuesday, aiming to transform 217 municipal schools across Mumbai into technology-enabled learning hubs. The initiative focuses on upgrading classrooms and equipping teachers with innovative teaching tools to enhance student learning.
“We have joined an initiative that marks the next step in education. This is a transformative change in the education sector. Through this programme, we will be delivering foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) tools to many schools. As these tools are user-friendly, teachers will be able to use them easily,” said BMC commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani.
The programme is set to benefit 3,078 students, converting 273 classrooms into smart learning spaces and training 434 teachers in Sampark’s innovative pedagogy and learning materials. In addition, 159 smart TV panels will be installed in schools located in wards such as Chembur, Bhandup, Dadar, Parel, Byculla, Ghatkopar, Borivali, Kurla, and Goregaon.
This initiative builds on Sampark Foundation’s five-year MoU (2023-2028) with the Maharashtra government, under which 13,128 schools across 13 districts have already seen 14,344 classrooms converted into smart classrooms, 9,972 teachers trained, and 6,167 LED TVs distributed.
The programme includes comprehensive training for teachers, master trainers, and education officials to ensure effective classroom integration. District, block, and cluster-level functionaries will be oriented to monitor usage, while dedicated manpower will oversee implementation.
Community engagement efforts will involve parents and local stakeholders to foster a supportive learning ecosystem. The programme will be reviewed monthly at district and block levels, with refresher training sessions and surveys to track improvements in learning outcomes, ensuring sustained impact in classrooms across Mumbai.
Source: India Today
