Maharashtra's draft visionary document: Increase school enrolment from 41% to 70% in the next four years, cut student dropout by nearly 4%

Time of India

8 hours ago

Mumbai: In the next four years, Maharashtra aims to attain a gross school enrolment ratio of 70% from the current 41%, while reducing the secondary student dropout rate to 4% from 7.7%.
These ambitious goals were listed as part of a draft visionary document released recently by the state school education department and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
The draft recommends digital preparedness and modernisation in schools, including introducing bagless days and digital schools, distribution of tablets and AI-learning tools, and introducing vocational education from Class 6, including subjects like EV technology, digital media, animation, healthcare equipment, and Industry 4.0.
State govt has invited recommendations from stakeholders on the draft visionary document.
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The document outlines a roadmap with short-term (2025-29), medium-term (2030-35), and long-term (2036-47) goals, focusing on modern pedagogy, digital and climate-resilient infrastructure, and a curriculum rooted in Indian values and global competencies. Though students from Maharashtra have done better than the national average in the recent PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 report when it comes to learning competencies, the vision document talks about attaining 100% in foundational literacy and numeracy by Class 3.
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The draft is part of the state's Viksit Maharashtra @2047 mission.
The short-term goals emphasise on getting basic infrastructure in place in all schools. The document also talks about the state's plan to set up at least one model school in each block, called the PM and CM Shri schools, with science labs, libraries, and sports facilities. The draft recommends using AI-powered learning and teaching tools in model schools.
For teachers, it mandates at least 50 hours of National Education Policy (NEP)-aligned training.
Leadership development programmes for principals and headmasters will be launched.
For the medium-term goals, to be attained till 2035, all schools should have sports facilities, science labs, innovation hubs, and digital classrooms. The state intends to create district-level innovation clusters, institutionalising peer learning networks and internship programmes, constructing residential schools in migration-prone districts, with migrant child tracking systems integrated.
Also, establishment of key performance indicators for schools, teachers, and students.
The state intends to build schools featuring gurukul-inspired architecture in the long-term plans. The document also talks about adopting the National Professional Standards for Teachers fully, regular international collaborations and tie-ups with IITs and industry leaders, and establishment of the Maharashtra Centre for School Leadership and Pedagogy Innovation.
Structured mentorship programmes and school-industry partnerships will also be fostered.
While enlisting the goals, the document also talks about the challenges that could delay the process, such as the declining student outcomes in mathematics and science, with over 75 % scoring below basic proficiency, and a 5% drop in SSC and HSC pass rates. Poor student-to-teacher ratios — often exceeding one teacher per 35 students — and shortages of subject-specific teachers in science, math, and English persist.
Limited digital exposure, reliance on private and govt-aided schools with minimal regulatory oversight, and infrastructure gaps such as lack of functioning toilets, clean drinking water, science labs, and digital tools are ongoing issues. Insufficient operational funding for daily school expenses further hampers progress.
Mahendra Ganpule, former vice-president of Maharashtra School Principals' Association, however, said, "While govt talks about enhancing facilities, it also needs to increase the non-salary grant, as all the costs of running a school have quadrupled. In addition, it is necessary to consider the schools which have not received a single penny in the last 20 years. Unless this goal of providing sufficient teachers is achieved immediately, quality education is not possible.
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