Beyond textbooks: Deccan International School students get hands-on civic lessons at GBA command centre

Bengaluru: Shifting the focus from textbooks to hands-on civic learning, 40 students from Deccan International School on Thursday completed an educational tour of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), gaining real-world insights into sustainable urban living.

Organised in partnership with the Reap Benefit team, the visit offered a detailed walkthrough of the GBA’s call centre and war room, where students saw how urban issues are reported, tracked, and resolved.

Accompanied by teachers Chaitra Kashyap and Asha N, the students learned about the complete lifecycle of a public grievance — from the moment a complaint is filed to its closure by the civic personnel concerned.

A highlight of the visit was an interaction with senior GBA officials, including Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, the commissioner for climate change, and key environmental officers. These conversations gave students a window into the city’s administrative strategies and sustainability initiatives.

The Reap Benefit team also led a brief session on Bengaluru’s pressing urban challenges, including waste management, traffic congestion, and environmental degradation, emphasising the crucial role citizens, particularly young people, can play in addressing them.

"The experience helped students develop a deeper appreciation for civic responsibility and the importance of sustainable living in a rapidly growing metropolis like Bengaluru,” a school spokesperson said.