Ranchi, Nov. 6: An agreement between private schools and Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) promises to educate several slum children here.

Private schools have decided to join hands and select some children living in slums and educate them. The children would be involved with the private school closest to their residence.

A decision to this effect was taken today at a meeting where 35 principals of private schools were present. The schools would sign a MoU with JEPC for this drive.

JEPC director S.K. Barnawal said poor infrastructure in government schools keeps these children out.

“Private schools are well-equipped but utilise their infrastructure only for six to eight hours a day. Hence we decided to run parallel schools in these private institutions,” Barnawal added.

According to records with JEPC, there are 9,354 slum children in Ranchi. There are 8,910 dropouts and 3,468 children in slums who are not working.

After the meeting, Cambrian Public School principal G.P. Singh said they have decided to take in 100 slum children.

Responding to the idea, Ranchi deputy commissi- oner Avinash Kumar said even if each school takes in two to five slum children, it would make a difference.