Education, being one of the fundamentals of Human Right, the Ministry of School Education believes in the protection of this right and ensure that every child in Maharashtra exercises his right to education, without any exception. The primary mission of the Ministry of School Education, under Vinod Tawde’s leadership, was to reach out to all children of the state, stepping beyond the superficial socio-economic differences.
Tawde was crystal clear in its approach and has explicitly stated that the core focus should solely be on the empowerment of the students and helping students of the state realise their educational dreams and all initiatives of the department have reflected this belief.
The Department implemented a multi-disciplinary approach that transcends the walls of the classroom, making an attempt for the holistic grooming of the students. The department primarily believes in the giving of the world that goes beyond ‘Bookish Knowledge’ and encourages practical applications in the students. Eliminating the age-old routine of ‘Remember, Understand and Apply’, Tawde took concrete measures to promote the outlook of ‘Analyse, Evaluate and Create’ in school education.
The Ministry of School Education simultaneously focused on progressive development both in urban and rural Maharashtra. The focus was on the provision of educational means that are at par with global standards even in the most rural corners of the state. The provision of Educational Technology gave the students in rural areas an equal opportunity to realise their true potential.
Maharashtra International Education Board (MIEB)
The MIEB School Project was initiated by the state government under Vinod Tawde’s leadership to elevate and match global standards in education. This project aimed provide world-class education accessible in all corners of Maharashtra. In these schools a local-to-global approach towards education was envisioned, providing students with the integrated learning experience in the mother tongue. The 75 schools from Maharashtra that got affiliation from Maharashtra International Education Board (MIEB) were all set to start an international school curriculum. Plans were also chalked to include 75 Marathi medium schools across Maharashtra in the MIEB board. This included schools from urban and rural sectors, from the various regions of the state. However, despite its perks and advantages, this project was scrapped by the subsequent MVA government.
Supplementary Exams for SSC and HSC
The path-breaking decision of conducting SSC and HSC supplementary exams for students who were unsuccessful in clearing their exams continue to benefit the students in the academic year 2017-18. Out of 14,2968 students appearing for March 2017 SSC exam; 39,994 students were successful in clearing their exams in the second attempt through the supplementary exams and 24,311students were cleared for skill development program. With the introduction of SSC supplementary exams, over 27% of the candidates appearing for the exams were able to resume their educational journey by securing admission in FYJC supplementary examination.
Shikshanachi Vaari And Other Teacher Reforms
Vinod Tawde initiated educational reform that also focused on enhancing the skills of teachers. One such program was Shikshanachi Vaari, which has been organised in various cities of the State. This programme was initiated with great foresight by Education Minister Vinod Tawde. Shikshanachi Vaari emphasises the principles of dynamic and innovative approach towards education, creative use of technology in the teaching-learning process and fostering an inclination towards learning among the students. What really made this initiative an outstanding one was the collaborative efforts and the leadership taken by the participating teachers who have taken a unique approach over traditional methods of pedagogy. The intent behind this was to present a creative channel for the teachers to enhance the classroom experience that would mutually benefit both the educator and the learner.
Tawde also allowed the use of mobile phones by teachers during school hours. This set the foundation of the use of digital tools even in the remote schools of Maharashtra as teachers were able to incorporate the use of the internet in teaching.
Tawde Pushed for the promotion of value-based education, instead of rote learning method. This was the core behind various initiatives that he introduced during his tenure as the Minister for School Education. He was the first to push for the online application for candidate nominations for the State Teachers Award. This helped truly deserving teachers get recognition and select the winners in a transparent, non-biased way.
He also recognized the efforts of truly exceptional teachers who were passionate about their profession. Tawde introduced the ‘I Want Challenge’ program for teachers who wanted to take on the task of teaching at difficult locations and to students with special needs. These teachers were recognized for their exceptional contribution to the education in Maharashtra
These initiative was instrumental in breaking the age-old moulds of traditional pedagogy in Maharashtra’s classroom and breathing in a new life through the medium of technology, tools and enhancement aid. The response across the state was overwhelming and it truly has helped the learning process move beyond the walls of the classrooms.
Failure Tag Eliminated
The Ministry of School Education stepped up to address the needs of the students and brought in initiatives to help reinforce a positive attitude towards education in the minds of the students. The Department opted to eliminate the stigma of ‘Failure’ and ensured that, moving forward, no SSC, HSC mark sheet will have the word ‘Failed’ printed on them. The students who were unsuccessful in clearing their exams were eligible for Supplementary exams and a Skill development program to help them continue their academic journey.
Aptitude Test
The Department of Education, under Vinod Tawde, was determined to revolutionise the education system and impart knowledge that will truly reflect the potential in each child. The long term goal was to move beyond the superficial realm of bookish knowledge and marks, focusing on the holistic growth of the child’s true potential, making learning an enjoyable process.
Vinod Tawde was keen to emphasise on the need of the students in discovering their potential while bridging the gap between education and employability. Highlighting the constructivism in education demonstrating the impact of the quality of education, the project ‘Kal Chachni 2016’ was initiated to reduce the gap between the dreams of a bright career and the standard pathways of education. With this aptitude test, students were given career choices that took into consideration their interests and aptitude and evaluated them on unbiased, scientific parameters. The resultant effects were inspiring as they were all inclusive. The test results gave encouragement to students who knew what they were looking to take up as career options post SSC by backing it with validity. The students who were affronted with duality due to the choices were assured with the results. And lastly, the test results were especially determined to offer guidance to the students who were previously overwhelmed with the lack of direction and guidance in matters of making a career choice.
Madrasa Education Updated
To ensure unified educational growth of the students across the state, irrespective of the medium and mode of education, the department initiated the introduction of Maths and Science in Madrasas along with traditional religious studies. This initiative was well-received both by the students and religious leaders, truly providing the students with an opportunity and access to comprehensive education essential for all-around development of the individuals.
Centralised Teacher Recruitment
For merit-based and corruption-free teacher recruitment in Maharashtra, the department, under Vinod Tawde, was committed to transparency and direct process in the state, in shorts ‘a job without bribe’. Tawde pushed for a zero-tolerance policy for corruption in education. Working towards this aim, the department had initiated a centralised program for teacher recruitment in the state through a digital medium called ‘Pavitra Portal’. This initiative was introduced to put a stop to the rampant corruption that was involved in the process of teachers recruitment and keep a check on the institutions which promoted the commercialisation of education. This was however scrapped by the subsequent MVA government.
School for Out-of-School Children
With the collaborative efforts of the State’s Education Department and NGO’s, many out of school children were able to experience the enthusiasm of ‘First Day of School’. These children were enrolled in the local school and were provided with books, uniforms and stationery items, helping them take their first steps towards a brighter future. Bal Rakshak, a dedicated guide was appointed under this program to help identify such students and bring them to school, ensuring their continued education.
Khelo India Youth Games 2019
Maharashtra got the honour of hosting the ‘Khelo India Youth Games 2019’ and it was a massive force towards strengthening the sports culture at the grassroots in the state. The department, under then Minister Vinod Tawde, aimed to nurture the young athletes towards excellence and take concrete steps towards strengthening the sports culture of the nation. Team Maharashtra was crowned winners as they amassed 228 medals, comprising 85 gold, 62 silver and 81 bronze, dominating almost all the disciples of this incredible competition.
Extra Marks and Scholarship for Sportspersons
To develop the sports inclination in students from the very beginning, Maharashtra Government, under Vinod Tawde’s leadership, decided to award extra marks for sportsmen in SSC and HSC exams. The students who participated at State, National and International levels were awarded 25 marks in the HSC and SSC Finals.
Further, under Vinod Tawde’s leadership, special scholarships were established for promising athletes from Maharashtra as they trained for Olympics 2020 through a special program called ‘Mission Olympics 2020’. This included the provision of infrastructure and training in preparation for the Olympics and various competitions on the international level.
