Some took leave from work, others nervously looked at their watch. The scene outside Government schools in the capital wore a festive air with excited students accompanied by their enthusiastic parents queuing to discuss their performance and other issues with class-teachers.

From bad handwriting to poor calculations, improper usage of grammar to lack of concentration, parents of about 16 lakh children studying in Government schools in Delhi were  updated about shortcomings of their wards in the first-ever mega parent-teacher meeting. Thousands of parents trooped into Government schools across the Capital on Saturday morning, talking to teachers and discussing ways to improve their children’s academic performance, the first such exercise in the city. Many beaming parents said such parent-teacher meetings should become a regular exercise. Some saw their children’s report cards and attendance registers for the first time.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who is also the Education Minister, behind the parent-teachers association (PTA) meeting in Government-run schools, visited several schools in every zone of Delhi and interacted with parents if all was in order and how were parents responding to this initiative.

The Aam Aadmi Party administration’s parent-teacher meeting exercise is aimed at plugging this gap in Government schools, which are crucial to improving learning standards because they cater to huge chunks of the population who cannot afford private institutions.

At the Rashtriya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya (RRPV) in Civil lines  Sisodia visited several classrooms where PTMs were in progress and talked to parents as well as students. “I am happy that I have been able to provide in Delhi’s government schools that which every parent looks forward to for their children,” he said. “I noted how students are happy that teachers were praising them in front of their parents. Such meetings will inspire not just students but parents and teachers as well,” he added.

The Deputy Chief Minister also spoke about the Delhi “model” of education and hoped that it would inspire other states to improve the quality of education provided in their schools. He said “Chunauti 2018” was a radical measure of the Government aimed at providing “age-appropriate learning” to students. “Delhi has some 16 lakh students in Government schools. No change is possible unless we change and improve our government schools,” he insisted.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Sisodia in a tweet, “Congrats Manish for organizing Mega PTM in govt schools. V heart warming stories coming from various schools.” Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain also tweeted about the “first ever parent-teachers meeting in Government schools of Delhi”.

Many Ministers and several AAP MlA also visited various Government schools in the Capital to see the first PTMs being held. The Twitter handle #MegaPTMInDelhi was trending as social media users discussed the AAP Government’s initiative.

At the RPVV in Civil lines, Sisodia met three alumni of the school who did not realise the special occasion and simply happened to be revisiting their alma mater today. “We’re from the 1998 batch and came back today to revisit our memories of school,” said Nitin to Sisodia, adding, “I wish we had this concept in our days. But we are thrilled to see it being implemented now.”

Sisodia said that the success of the Mega PTM showed that it was possible to improve standards at Government schools so that there is no difference between them and the education provided by private schools. Sisodia, also wrote an open letter to parents asking them actively participate in the PTMs to nurture their ward’s future.