Gadchiroli schools will not lack funds: Maharashtra education minister

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Book knowledge alone is not enough, children also need patriotism and good values instilled in them," Maharashtra school education minister Dadaji Bhuse said in Gadchiroli. He said teachers in a remote area like Gadchiroli were working with full dedication despite difficult conditions, and assured that the government was fully committed to the development of schools and the safety of children, and that there would be no shortage of funds for school infrastructure.

On September 10, Bhuse visited various schools in the district under the "Chalo School Chalein" (Let's Go to School) campaign to assess the quality of teaching, the facilities available and the amenities provided to children. He later addressed a felicitation ceremony for meritorious students and outstanding teachers at the Samajik Nyay Bhavan auditorium. The event was attended by MLA Dr Milind Narote, MLA Ramdas Masram, zilla parishad chief executive officer Suhas Gade, additional district magistrate Sanjay Aswale, deputy director of education Madhuri Sawarkar, secondary education officer Vasudev Bhuse, primary education officer Prerak Ujgare, along with officials from several departments, principals, teachers, parents and students.

Minister Bhuse said that just as an entire village comes together to build and maintain a temple, former students, parents and villagers should similarly come forward for the development of schools, regarding them as temples of learning. He said the efforts of teachers were continuously changing the picture of zilla parishad schools, and that teachers play a crucial role in shaping children's personalities.

The minister directed that basic facilities such as clean drinking water, toilets, adequate classrooms, playgrounds, e-labs and libraries be maintained in schools. He said funds for school development would be sought through the district planning committee, CSR funds and the Human Development Mission. The district administration was also directed to immediately condemn old, dilapidated and unsafe school buildings and send proposals and plans for new buildings.

The minister said teacher recruitment was underway across the state in a transparent manner through the Pavitra portal, and that teachers would soon join vacant posts, easing the shortage. He also said the long-pending issue of promotions for kendra pramukhs (cluster heads) had been resolved. Citing the safety of girls, he said schools were being encouraged to provide self-defence training along with basic military training for children.

As part of the campaign, Bhuse visited PM Shri Jawaharlal Nehru Nagar Parishad Upper Primary School in Ramnagar, Platinum Jubilee High School on Armori Road, Smt Sindhutai Poreddiwar High School in Gogaon, the Zilla Parishad Upper Primary School in Gogaon, and the Zilla Parishad Upper Primary ISO Adarsh School in Bodli. He spoke directly with students to find out what was being taught, how teachers taught, what facilities existed and what was still needed.

At the PM Shri school in Ramnagar, the minister praised children for their reading and recitation of poems and called for positive steps to address the shortage of classrooms. At the zilla parishad school in Gogaon, he planted saplings, reviewed facilities for children with disabilities, and inspected toilets and other basic amenities. At the ISO Adarsh school in Bodli, he celebrated the Pola festival with students, had girls tie rakhis on him, inspected the digital classroom and computer lab, and directed that faulty panels be repaired immediately. He assured positive action on the school management's demands relating to the boundary wall, sheds and honorarium for nutrition programme staff.

At the Samajik Nyay Bhavan event, minister Bhuse felicitated students and teachers who had performed well at state and national level in science, sports and other competitions. Sanna Shakil Pathan, a student of Mohurli Model School who had been on an educational trip to ISRO in Bengaluru, shared her experience of the visit and of flying for the first time. Dhruv Vinod Kowe of Adarsh English High School in Desaiganj was honoured with the Inspire Award for an innovative project. Naman Pedapalliwar of Indira Gandhi Vidyalaya in Yenapur was honoured for winning second prize at the state science fair.

National softball player Abha Sangrame, kho-kho player Dhruv Halami, national kabaddi player Shravan Usendi, karate players Sarthak Gedam, Vanita Pungati, Saloni Karpe, Vanshika Jhanjhal, Krishna Nerkar, Roshan Katve and Ramesh Bansi were also felicitated. Students who cleared the NMMS exam, including Vaishnavi Raut, Sweety Usendi, Kritika Gurunule and Pranjal Bhoyar, along with those who cleared Navodaya and various scholarship exams, were honoured, as were Purva Vinod Madavi and Shweta Vasudev Gedam. Dedicated teachers, including Dilip Nakade and Praveen Dorlikar of Mangarmenda school and other hardworking, tech-savvy "idol teachers" from across the district, were felicitated with shawls and mementos.