Government schools in Maharashtra are due for a massive transformation. "Educationally Progressive Maharashtra" Programme has been introduced by the state education department, under which ideas like teacher training, innovative methods of teaching using toys and props, usage of biometric systems for attendance and bringing down drop-out rates, have been introduced. Schools and directors of education have been given a year's time to meet these targets.
The Programme has been made very stringent to gain the best possible results. Only those schools that attain 100% success shall be deemed progressive. Goals have been set by the state government for teachers; education officers at block, district and state levels to aid schools achieve 100% results. Administrative officers are expected to make sure that all schools under their authority are digitized, as a part of the SARAL system.
Teachers from across the state have been asked to visit the schools that have been deemed ideal. Though 100% literacy may not be practically achievable, but teachers have been asked to visit schools in Kumthe and Vai in Satara, and Miraj in Sangli to initiate a change in opinions of people towards education. These visits shall surely help getting their schools a progressive rating as per the state government parameters.
State education secretary, Nand Kumar mentioned that with the introduction of Right to Education Act in 2010, there has been a misconception surrounding a lot of its features. People assume that Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), no-detention policy, no public or board exams till Std VIII and age-appropriate admissions actually hinder quality education.
For the purpose of clearing out these misconceptions, and for tackling low levels of learning and regional inequality, the state government rolled out multi-year initiative called Pragat Shaikshanik (Educationally Progressive) Maharashtra in June 2015. The aim of this programme is to provide students with age/grade apt competencies, by providing them a playground for quality improvement in teachers and administrators.
Over the years, focus on textbook learning has promoted theoretical learning. The state is now trying to evolve the teaching methodologies by inculcating concept understanding and competencies, rather than promoting rote learning, said Aparna Sivakumar of Change Agents for School Education and Research (Caser).
The state government's subsequent plans include digital schools, ISO certified schools, activity based learning and multi-lingual classroom teaching (for migrant students). Teachers shall be given due support in assimilating non-school going children into classrooms and providing them special trainings.
The Action Plan
"·Capacity building has been initiated for all the
relevant people to ensure that no child remains below grade level by 2016-17.
This includes resource persons, cluster- and block-level officers, teachers,
community and supporting agencies.
"·To help teachers improve on subjects, tutoring and child psychology, education officers have been assigned.
"·Digital and physical teacher communities for various subjects are being formed to provide a supporting and encouraging environment.
"·For supporting teachers further, mentors in proximity are being identified; learning modules for teachers requiring further support are being built.
"·Quality cells are being given proper channelization by driving professional programmes through demand and need.
"·To make teachers and departments more
accountable for their work, a proper review system shall be put in place.
Manual administrative tasks shall be digitized. Teachers shall be motivated to
reach underserved schools, and job charts shall be regularly visited.