Latest news with #Bhuse
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bhuse's basic military training plan in state govt schools runs into hurdles
Pune: Education minister Dada Bhuse's plan to introduce basic military training in schools from Std I has run into challenges. Lack of clarity, differing opinions among experts and teacher associations, and inadequate collaboration with retired military personnel are among the hurdles. Bhuse announced the initiative in Mumbai in June to instil a sense of patriotism, discipline, and encourage regular physical exercise among students. However, there was no progress on the ground. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Lt Col SD Hange, director of militarisation for the state's ex-servicemen welfare department, said there is no clear definition of the role of ex-servicemen in this programme. "Many retired military personnel requested clarification on their roles and honorariums which the state education department has not yet addressed. These individuals did not receive training to fulfil their roles effectively, leading to a lack of engagement with the initiative among retired personnel," he added. According to departmental records, there are over four lakh retired military personnel in the state. Many of them, particularly non-commissioned officers and junior commissioned officers, settled in rural areas and are involved in various occupations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Bhuse's assistant told TOI that the minister was unable to offer a comment as he was busy in a series of meetings. State education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh did not respond to calls or text messages. Rahul Rekhawar, director of State Council of Education Research and Training, said, "It is under process." Meanwhile, teachers and education experts were against the concept of military training, terming it illogical. Mahendra Ganpule, former vice-president of the state headmasters' association, said that the minister's announcement was 'hollow'. "The minister did not take our views into consideration and made the announcement without having any outline or plans in mind. How can a six-year-old child understand patriotism? It is beyond his or her ability," he added. Retired havildar Tanaji Jadhav said no one will teach for free. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra Minister says govt may reinclude classes 4 and 7 for State Scholarship Exam
Years after Maharashtra changed the practice of school-level state scholarship exams from Classes 4 and 7 to 5 and 8, now the state plans to reinclude Classes 4 and 7. School education minister Dada Bhuse hinted at the change as he spoke about plans to reinclude Classes 4 and 7 for scholarship exams so that students from rural areas–where most government-run schools operate up to Classes 4 or 7–can take advantage of this. Bhuse was talking at a programme in Gondia district. 'Most schools in rural parts of Maharashtra which are run by local governing bodies are either up to Class 4 or Class7. With scholarship exams now being conducted for Classes 5 and 8, these students were not able to obtain the benefits of it. Therefore, there are plans to re-include classes–4 and 7–for the scholarship exam,' he said. More than the financial benefits that it entails, scholarship exam is like a pat on back for students who clear it with good marks, he added. The plans have sparked a new discussion in the school education sector as teachers are now seeking clarity on exact plans. 'It is not advised to have scholarship exams for all four classes as it might add unnecessary burden on students,' said a senior teacher from a Mumbai school. Whereas an experienced coach for scholarship exams in the city, said, 'Any change in scholarship exam should be announced well in advance so that students have adequate time to prepare.' Highlighting the absence of any official order in this case, Mahendra Ganpule of Maharashtra School Principals Association, said, 'The discussion is only being heard through the media. There is no official circular, which has left students, teachers, and parents all confused. An official order should be issued soon. Furthermore, funds will have to be allocated for additional classes.' Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE), Pune conducts Maharashtra State Scholarship Exam which assesses students for language, mathematics, science and general knowledge. Traditionally, these exams have been conducted for Classes 4 and 7 students of Maharashtra State Board. But from 2016, classes for the scholarship exam were changed by the then government to Classes 5 and 8.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra to roll out NCC-style training from Class 1
In a move aimed at fostering discipline and a sense of patriotism among students, Maharashtra's school education minister Dada Bhuse announced on Wednesday that the state plans to introduce training similar to the National Cadet Corps (NCC) for students starting from Class 1. The goal is to provide military-style, NCC-inspired training to schoolchildren from the primary level, with the broader vision of nurturing well-disciplined, nation-conscious citizens, says minister. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) The minister stated, 'Preliminary discussions on this initiative have already been held with senior NCC officials. The goal is to provide military-style, NCC-inspired training to schoolchildren from the primary level, with the broader vision of nurturing well-disciplined, nation-conscious citizens.' A high-level meeting was convened at the state secretariat to outline the roadmap for implementing this initiative. Bhuse emphasised that promoting patriotism in students is a top priority. He added that this year's Independence Day celebrations across schools would include parade drills performed to patriotic songs. He also mentioned that the state plans to request the central government to increase the number of NCC training centres in Maharashtra, allowing more students to benefit from the program. Furthermore, the government plans to collaborate with the ex-servicemen welfare board to enlist retired armed forces personnel to help train schoolchildren. During the meeting, NCC officials provided an overview of the current NCC framework in Maharashtra. The state currently has 7 NCC groups and 63 active units, covering 1,726 schools and colleges with more than 1.14 lakh cadets enrolled. Officials also revealed plans to expand the program by adding 10 more NCC centres, which will allow an additional 20,314 students to participate. The introduction of NCC-style training from Class 1 marks a significant shift in the state's approach to education, blending academics with character-building and patriotic engagement.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State plans to introduce NCC-like training from class 1
Mumbai: Maharashtra school education department is exploring the idea of introducing NCC-like (National Cadet Corps-like) training for school students starting from Class 1. A high-level meeting was held on Tuesday, in which school education minister Dada Bhuse discussed the proposal with senior NCC officers and state education officials. State plans to introduce NCC-like training from class 1 During the meeting, Bhuse said that the aim of introducing such training to students from Class 1 onwards is to develop discipline and patriotism among them from a young age. 'Students must learn to respect the country and grow up with strong values. NCC-style training can help achieve this,' he said. The officials discussed the possibility of including military-style drills and patriotic songs in school activities, especially during events like Independence Day. Bhuse also mentioned that efforts would be made to increase the number of NCC training centres in the state with support from the central government. At present, 1,726 schools and colleges in Maharashtra provide NCC training with over 1.14 lakh students enrolled. The state has seven NCC groups and 63 units. NCC officials shared that 10 more centres will soon be added, with over 20,000 new students being enrolled into the training. Since NCC doesn't have enough staff to impart training in every school, the state is considering involving retired military personnel to assist with training through the ex-servicemen welfare board. The meeting was attended by key officials, including education secretary Ranjit Singh Deol, education commissioner Sachchandra Pratap Singh, SCERT director Rahul Rekhawar, NCC Director Janish George, Colonel Santosh Ghag and Lieutenant Colonel Ajay Bhosale. The state government will now assess the practicalities of introducing NCC in all schools.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Minister: Govt will amend law to curb unregulated school fee hikes, charges
Mumbai: Govt is planning to amend Maharashtra Education Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011, to curb unregulated fee hikes in schools, said state education minister Dada Bhuse in the assembly on Wednesday. He said govt also plans to introduce legislation to crack down on the nexus between private coaching classes and colleges in the state. This was in response to questions about colleges charging fees but coaching classes undertaking the job of teaching. Bhuse also said that it was wrong for schools to insist that uniforms and school material be purchased from a specific shop. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The issue of steep and unregulated fee hikes was raised by BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar, who said schools were supposed to raise their fees by only 15% every two years. "However, the PTA (parent-teacher association) is empowered to push for fee hikes. As a result, 10-12 parents on the PTA can work towards a fee hike decision which will impact 10,000-12,000 children. There should be a rule that 50% of the children should be represented by their parents on the PTA," he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai said schools had also adopted a strategy of keeping the official fees low but charging for other items. "There is a new racket. The fee is kept low, but the schools charge for infrastructure, picnics and so on," he alleged. In response, Bhuse said the fee regulation Act would be amended. "We have received many complaints, even though school fees are supposed to be hiked only by 15% every two years. Please send all your suggestions to us," he said. The issue of the nexus between coaching classes and colleges was raised by MLA Hiraman Khoskar. He said this had resulted in a situation where the fees for courses had shot up from Rs 15,000-20,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. "The nexus between colleges and coaching classes has been seen in Nashik. Colleges are misusing the benefits they have been given by the state," he alleged.
