Maharashtra to Remain at the Forefront in School Education – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his confidence that Maharashtra will remain at the forefront of school education, emphasizing the tremendous quality present among the state’s school teachers. He stated that by encouraging this quality, significant change can be brought about. He also directed that more focus be placed on teaching constitutional values to students in the Amrit Mahotsav year of the Constitution.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri. Fadnavis to discuss the 100-day action plan and measures to be implemented in the school education department. Attendees included School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal, Public Works Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale, Minister of State Indraneel Naik, Meghna Sakore Bordikar, Chief Secretary Sujata Sonik, Principal Secretary of School Education Ranjit Singh Deol, School Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh, as well as senior officials from various departments. Principal Secretary Shri. Deol presented the department’s plan.

Chief Minister Shri. Fadnavis stated that there is tremendous quality among students in government schools. The excellent teachers who nurture them are a great asset, and they should be used as role models for others. He also suggested gathering important information about schools, teachers, and students in a digital format, so that the time of schools and teachers is not wasted. He further recommended the registration of pre-primary education and providing certificates, with a requirement for parents to display them in a visible location to build trust.

The distribution of bicycles to girl students has proven to increase their school attendance. Chief Minister Shri. Fadnavis emphasized that this initiative should continue. He also suggested that ministers and dignitaries be instructed to visit schools on the first day to welcome students. He reiterated the importance of group schools and directed that the benefits of group schools be clearly explained to students in smaller schools.

Focus on Providing Quality, Enjoyable Education

School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse presented the department’s 100-day action plan, stating that the approach would be positive and progressive in all aspects. The plan includes improving school infrastructure, ensuring cleanliness, adopting the CBSE pattern with necessary state-specific changes, ranking schools based on quality, and creating educational systems up to the 10th grade in at least one school per cluster. He also announced plans to establish ‘smart classrooms’ in these schools, with a strong focus on delivering quality, enjoyable education.

Plans to Integrate Out-of-School Children into the Education System

Minister Bhuse also highlighted the performance of students from Marathi-medium schools in higher education. He mentioned that efforts would be made to secure funding for improving physical facilities in schools and to effectively utilize corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. Teachers implementing innovative programs would be encouraged and recognized as role models. He urged all dignitaries to adopt one school in their area and make regular visits to improve the school’s development. Regarding long-term measures, he stated that efforts would be made to bring out-of-school children, such as those working in brick kilns, sugarcane harvesting, and agriculture, into the education system.

Special efforts would be made to include the children of sugarcane workers in the educational process. It was also suggested that at least one teacher be available for arts, sports, and other subjects in each cluster. Furthermore, efforts would be made to ensure that children attend Marathi-medium schools. Chief Secretary Sujata Sonik instructed that the process of linking students’ Aadhaar numbers should be completed soon and that the Samagra Shiksha funds should be used effectively for school development.

Other Key Points:

• National Anthem to be mandatory in all schools and Marathi language implementation to be strengthened.
• All schools and Anganwadi centers to be geo-tagged and mapped with photographs for the implementation of the National Education Policy structure.
• State curriculum framework to be implemented from the 2025-26 academic year.
• One school per cluster to be developed as a CM Shri School, following the PM Shri School model.
• Validity of Aadhaar numbers of all students to be checked.
• Restructuring and strengthening of the School Management Committee.
• Fast-tracking of the teacher recruitment process.