CM Bhupendra Patel Chairs a meeting held in Gandhinagar regarding Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav 2026

Gandhinagar, June 2026: Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel today chaired a meeting in Gandhinagar on “Shala Praveshotsav–2026” and “Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav–2026”, organised with the objective of ensuring the holistic development of education in the State and delivering quality education to every child.

On this occasion, CM formally launched the ‘State Curriculum Framework (SCF)’, based on the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, and the ‘School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF)’ book, designed to assess and enhance school quality. CM also inaugurated the ‘NIPUN Gujarat Programme’, a major three-year initiative aimed at strengthening primary education across the State during the period 2026-27 to 2028-29.

CM called upon to transform this year’s Shala Praveshotsav into a Festival of Progress and to ensure 100 per cent enrolment of children in schools, thereby enabling Gujarat to retain its leading position in the field of education.

In this context, CM stated that every officer and public representative visiting schools during the Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav should actively participate in SMC meetings and brief parents about the importance of education and its vital role in the holistic development of children.

Emphasising the need for a focused and result-oriented approach, CM further added that if we all move forward with a clear vision and defined targets for achieving 100 per cent school enrolment, and effectively communicate the importance of education to parents, no child would remain deprived of school admission.

CM further stated that the educational service campaign launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi 23 years ago has now entered its 24th consecutive year. He added that the Prime Minister has consistently guided this initiative by paying close attention to every detail and inspiring continuous improvement, thereby creating new opportunities to strengthen the education sector every year.

Lauding the significant reduction in Gujarat’s school dropout rate to nearly one per cent, CM said that this achievement is the result of the State’s sustained efforts towards ensuring 100 per cent enrolment of children in schools.

CM further emphasised that, along with making Shala Praveshotsav a success, equal importance must be accorded to the effective implementation of Gunotsav by strengthening students’ reading, writing, and numeracy skills, thereby ensuring that 100 per cent of students pass with the required learning outcomes.

CM stated that just as Gujarat has secured a leading position in various sectors of development, the collective efforts and active participation of everyone are essential for ensuring that the State also emerges as a frontrunner in the field of education. He described such collaborative participation as a vital component of this educational service mission.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi stated that, while imparting academic knowledge and education to children, teachers should also place special emphasis on nurturing their daily habits, values, and life skills. He added that if habits related to cleanliness, health awareness, and moral values are instilled in children from an early age, they will grow into responsible citizens in the future.
 
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi urged all officials not to view the three-day Shala Praveshotsav merely as a government programme, but to participate in it with dedication and commitment towards shaping the future of children. He further stated that teachers, in collaboration with parents, should adopt a community-oriented approach to encourage children to maintain cleanliness in schools, wash their hands before meals, and cultivate positive daily habits from an early age.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi congratulated the Education Department and the entire Administration Department for the commendable achievement of identifying and re-enrolling nearly 6.5 lakh children who had dropped out of school during the previous academic year. He expressed confidence that, with the continued support and cooperation of society and the sustained efforts of the State Government, Gujarat would be able to reduce its school dropout rate to zero in the future.

Education Minister Dr Pradyuman Vaja highlighted Gujarat’s notable achievements in the field of education and stated that the State has secured the top position in the country in the Swachh  Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating (SHVR). He further noted that 15 schools from Gujarat have earned recognition under this prestigious rating, while Rajkot district has secured the seventh position among the top ten districts in the nation. Congratulating the Education Department, teachers, students, and the people of Gujarat, the Minister attributed this achievement to their collective efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel.

The Minister described the launch of the ‘State Curriculum Framework (SCF)’, the ‘School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF)’, and the NIPUN Gujarat Campaign as the beginning of a new era in Gujarat’s education sector. He stated that the State has achieved the objectives of 100 per cent enrolment and the development of well-equipped schools through innovative initiatives such as Shala Praveshotsav and Gunotsav. He added that the State Government is now placing primary emphasis on further enhancing the quality of education across Gujarat.

He added that, with the establishment of the State School Standards Authority, uniform quality benchmarks have been prescribed for all government and private schools across Gujarat. Schools will be scientifically assessed on the basis of standards developed by GCERT, and the assessment outcomes will be placed in the public domain. The Minister said that, through the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 and the NIPUN Gujarat Campaign, emphasis will be laid not only on knowledge acquisition but also on nurturing creativity, innovation, a spirit of inquiry and research, and the “learning by doing” approach among students.

He emphasised that Shala Praveshotsav has evolved beyond being merely a government programme and has emerged as a social movement and a celebration of education in Gujarat. He noted that members of the State Cabinet, public representatives, and government officials actively visit villages to promote school enrolment, retention, and quality education for children. The Minister further stressed that this year, special efforts should be made to ensure greater participation of School Management Committees (SMCs), parents, and the community as active partners in the educational process.

Chief Secretary Shri M.K. Das stated that, to ensure that every child receives education through school enrolment, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat and present Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched Shala Praveshotsav in the State in 2003. He noted that this educational mission has continued uninterrupted ever since and has brought about significant positive transformations in both access to and the quality of education in Gujarat. The Chief Secretary further said that, during the recent meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by the Prime Minister, special emphasis was placed on the key areas of nutrition, education, and health.

He added that the percentage of educational attainment in the State will improve further only when every child is enrolled in school and attends regularly. Similarly, the dropout rate can be reduced to zero only by bringing children who have left school back into the education system. Emphasising the importance of community participation during Shala Praveshotsav, he called for greater engagement and awareness among parents, School Management Committee (SMC) members, community leaders, and citizens to promote school enrolment. The Chief Secretary further stated that providing quality education to every child is essential for realising the vision of Viksit Bharat, as today’s children are the future of the nation. Observing that Gujarat has emerged as a leader across various sectors, he urged all officials to work collectively to ensure that the State also attains a leading position in the field of education.

Principal Secretary, Education Department, Shri Milind Torawane, stated that Shala Praveshotsav–2026 is not merely an enrolment drive for new students, but a comprehensive mass movement aimed at connecting every child in the State with the mainstream of education. He noted that this initiative, launched under the guidance of the then Chief Minister of Gujarat and present Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has now entered its 24th year. He further stated that this year, special efforts have been undertaken to ensure that no child remains deprived of education through data-driven mapping of students from Balvatika to Class 12. Additionally, a statewide campaign has been undertaken to reconnect students who are at risk of dropping out at various grade levels with the education system. Through the integration of databases from the Education Department, Health Department, and other sources, efforts have been made to reach every child.

On this occasion, Commissioner of Schools and Director of GCERT, Shri Anand Patel, stated that the Government of Gujarat has taken another significant step towards strengthening the education system as a foundational pillar for realising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat.” He noted that, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020—the first education policy of the 21st century introduced by the Government of India—the State Government has undertaken several proactive measures and launched important initiatives through the Education Department to enhance the quality and effectiveness of education.

Shri Anand Patel also presented concise and informative short films highlighting the key features and objectives of the State Curriculum Framework (SCF), the School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF), and the NIPUN Gujarat Campaign.

Director of Primary Education Shri Prakash Trivedi delivered the vote of thanks.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries handed over authorisation letters to District Education Officers for five schools from among the 298 secondary schools approved under the State Budget for the year 2026–27.

The event was attended by members of the State Council of Ministers, senior officers of the State Government, office-bearers of educational associations, officials of the Education Department, and teachers. Collectors, District Development Officers, and education officers from district and taluka levels also participated virtually.

Source: Information Department, Gujarat