AMC Smart Schools Witness Massive Shift as Thousands Leave Private Schools

AHMEDABAD : In a remarkable reversal of a decades-old education trend, thousands of parents in Ahmedabad are abandoning private schools in favour of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Smart Schools, signalling a growing vote of confidence in the city’s public education system. Once viewed as the last resort for economically weaker families, government schools are now attracting students from middle-class and even affluent households, including families of IT professionals, thanks to upgraded infrastructure, technology-driven learning and quality education at no cost.

The transformation is reflected in the numbers. During the 2026-27 academic session, more than 3,500 students have left private schools and enrolled in AMC schools. Over the past decade, the cumulative number of such admissions has crossed 56,000, marking one of the biggest shifts in Ahmedabad’s education landscape.

According to AMC officials, nearly 31,000 students have taken admission in municipal schools this academic year, significantly higher than the previous year. Some popular Smart Schools, including those in Thaltej and Bodakdev, are even witnessing waiting lists due to growing demand.

The surge comes after the municipal corporation invested heavily in modernising its schools. Today, all 220 school campuses under the AMC School Board have been converted into Smart Schools equipped with digital classrooms, smart boards, English-medium sections, robotics and science laboratories, computer labs, libraries, sports facilities and trained teachers. Additional Smart Schools are also under construction across the city.

Parents say the decision is driven not only by affordability but also by improved educational standards.

“My son studied in a private school in Ranip for three years, but the education was not satisfactory and expenses kept increasing,” said Ektaben Rabari, whose child now studies at Anupam Primary Smart School. “The private school charged ₹15,000 in fees, and other expenses like books and uniforms pushed the total close to ₹20,000. Here, education is free, children study through smart boards, receive scholarships, uniforms, books and even access to computer classes and sports facilities.”

Interestingly, the shift is no longer limited to families struggling with rising education costs.

Ashish Prajapati, an IT infrastructure engineer, said he voluntarily shifted his son from a private institution after evaluating the quality of education in AMC schools.

“There is a huge difference now. Despite being a government school, every child receives personal attention. Students learn through Google Future Class, use Chromebooks, digital libraries and computer labs. The overall learning environment is far more modern than many people imagine,” he said.

School Board Administrator L.D. Desai attributed the trend to continuous investments in infrastructure and implementation of the National Education Policy. Besides digital classrooms, students benefit from science and robotics laboratories, sports infrastructure, scholarships under schemes such as Namo Lakshmi and Namo Saraswati, free textbooks, uniforms and nutritious breakfast programmes.

“More than 3,500 students have shifted from private schools this year alone. Over the last ten years, the figure has crossed 56,000. Parents are now choosing municipal schools because they trust the quality of education and the facilities being offered,” Desai said.