Latest news with #RahulRekhawar
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Marksheets to make way for holistic progress cards
Pune: The state plans to change the classroom dynamics in govt schools by emphasising on skill-based, holistic learning and doing away with memorisation by rote. According to the new state curriculum framework draft released by State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) on Sunday, traditional marksheets are set to go and students can look forward to project-based learning, streamlined curricula and 360 holistic progress cards. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Assessment reforms, a clear combination of formative and summative techniques targeted at continuous learning rather than memorisation, make the heart of the draft. There is a renewed emphasis on mother tongue and regional languages, and one significant innovation is the introduction of multilingual instruction, particularly in foundational and preparatory years. The draft aims at reducing students' stress, promotes deeper understanding and details specific subject- and grade-wise content reductions for the first time. "The assessment system tracks critical thinking and overall growth, besides exam scores, by striking a balance between formative and summative feedback," said SCERT director Rahul Rekhawar. But experts spotted some drawbacks—the draft doesn't explain how students will adjust to interdisciplinary approaches or how teachers will require extensive training to transition from traditional lectures to mentoring and ongoing assessment. Rekhawar asserted this is the most focused revision yet, "with strong consultations and an unprecedented inclusion of stakeholders at every level". The emphasis on formative assessment is a good step forward, said Shilpa Kulkarni, principal of a Pune school. "Moving towards comprehensive progress cards, rather than single-exam performance, will help our students and send a message that every skill matters." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now There are concerns about practical applications. English teacher and teacher-trainer Sunil Pawar said, "Urban schools may adapt easily, but rural and marginalised schools face challenges of training, resources and language diversity. If equity is to be attained, the state must offer significant assistance."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
New draft drops 3rd language in state schools for Class 3-10
Pune: The curriculum for Class 3 to 10 in state govt schools in Maharashtra, announced by the State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) on Sunday, eliminated the third language from the new draft for 2025. This means state govt schools will continue to teach two languages until the Narendra Jadhav committee decides the future of the third language in classrooms. Tamil Nadu is the only state which has a two-language policy in its schools. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai " The third language will be included in the curriculum only after the final recommendations of the committee and a subsequent decision by govt," SCERT director Rahul Rekhawar said. He said that until a formal decision is made, the current curriculum system will continue. "At present, only the first and second language syllabi have been prepared. The third language syllabus will follow once the curriculum is finalised." The exclusion of the third language comes after months of heated public debate, especially around the imposition of Hindi, in Marathi and English medium schools. Education activists demanded that schools be given the autonomy in choosing the third language based on local and cultural relevance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Struggling With Belly Fat? Try This at Home Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo The new curriculum, designed in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, includes 20 subjects. The revised syllabus introduces environmental education, Indian knowledge systems, constitutional values, and entrepreneurship skills across different grades. Among the 20 subjects are Marathi, English, mathematics, science, history, geography, economics, political science, arts, vocational education, physical education, and foundational value education. The draft curriculum has now been uploaded on SCERT's website and feedback from stakeholders—teachers, parents, experts, and institutions—has been invited until Aug 27. SCERT has urged respondents to provide detailed suggestions, citing the subject, grade, original content, proposed changes, and the rationale behind them. However, the absence of a third language from the draft has once again drawn attention to the ongoing controversy around language inclusion in school education. In recent months, several parents' groups and regional political leaders voiced opposition to making Hindi compulsory in non-Hindi speaking states like Maharashtra. Mahendra Ganpule, former vice-president, state headmasters' association, said the new draft published on Sunday is similar to the one published earlier in line with SCF 2024. Other highlights of the draft include a dedicated vocational education curriculum starting from Class 6 and a redesigned environmental studies syllabus for Class 3 to 5, now titled 'The World Around Us'. The curriculum reflects NEP's broader goals, such as promoting sustainable development, social inclusion, and interdisciplinary learning.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra SCERT invites public feedback for school education curriculum
The Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Monday invited public feedback on the draft school education curriculum. The draft was made available for the public on the council's website ( from 10 am, said a press release by SCERT Director Rahul Rekhawar. Education experts, teachers, scholars, parents, officials, organisations, and all sections of society are requested to submit their comments on the draft online by 5 pm on August 27. Twenty subjects are included in this draft: Marathi, English, Mathematics, Science, Politics, Economics, Social Work, The World Around Us 1 and 2, History, Geography, Environmental Science, Defence Studies, Traffic Safety and Civil Protection, Civics, and Physical Education and Fitness. The comments and suggestions should be concise and reasoned, and should include the subject, class, level, relevant page number, text in the original draft, required changes/corrections, reason for change, and what the revised text should be, the release said. Personal details of the commenter, such as name, telephone number, e-mail, and residential address, also have to be added. If one wishes to submit comments by post, the title in bold should be School Education Curriculum (Proposed) Draft-2025 – Comments (for Curriculum Development Department) and sent to the address SCERT, 708, Sadashiv Peth, Kumthekar Road, Pune – 411030, as per the release. Regarding the introduction of the three-language policy, the press release said the 'existing system' will continue until the decision of the Dr Narendra Jadhav committee. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month revoked government resolutions on the contentious three-language policy in primary schools after widespread protests over alleged imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking students. The government also appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Jadhav to review the implementation of the contentious three-language policy from Class 1. Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State pushes ahead with stalled Germany job project
MUMBAI: In a bid to revive the stalled skill migration project with Germany, the Maharashtra government has granted permission to Rahul Rekhawar, the director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), to visit Germany for a study tour from July 13 to 19. The visit is seen as a key move to speed up the implementation of the two-year-old agreement signed between the state and the German state of Baden-Württemberg. (Shutterstock) Organised by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Mumbai, the study tour to which Rekhawar has been invited is titled 'Integration of German as a Foreign Language with Recruitment of Skilled Workers in the South and South-Eastern Region'. He will meet organisations involved in skill recruitment and training, with a focus on integrating German language education as part of the migration preparation. The Maharashtra government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the German authorities in 2023 to provide skilled manpower to German industries. While over 32,000 students had registered for the initiative, only 7,500 were shortlisted for language and trade training. Despite initial preparations, including the identification of training centres and allocation of ₹36 crore for language instruction, the project had stalled following the 2024 assembly elections. HT reported on this in its July 1 edition. The SCERT director's visit is expected to help bridge the communication gap between the two governments and resume the implementation of the project. Rekhawar will also explore German language education models and their integration into skill development frameworks, which may inform future training modules in Maharashtra. According to a government resolution, the Goethe Institute will bear the entire cost of Rekhawar's foreign tour. On his return, he will be required to submit a comprehensive report to the ministry of external affairs and key departments of the Maharashtra government, outlining the outcomes of the visit and recommendations for the effective rollout of the language-training programme. The government has also directed that knowledge gained from the study tour be shared with other officials to accelerate the project. With this step, officials hope the long-awaited training for selected students, many of whom have waited nearly a year, will finally begin.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
2-language formula a pitfall for SCERT students: Director
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Students in the state board-run schools are facing a disadvantage because of the two-language formula, said Rahul Rekhawar, director of Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) on Friday during a state-level review meeting of education department in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. "Only two languages are taught in state board-run schools from Standard I, whereas three languages are there in curriculum of other schools of all boards. Thus, children studying in state board schools are at a disadvantage. Therefore, students of Marathi and English medium state board schools have been provided the option of learning any third Indian language," an official release, quoting Rekhawar, stated. Comments from the top SCERT official have come in the wake of political uproar over making Hindi 'compulsory' for students of the state board from Standard I. Rekhawar also said the education machinery needs to gear up to adopt the proposed National Credit Framework for school education. "The credit system will be helpful for students in competing at higher levels of studies in their academic career," he said. The first-of-its-kind two-day review meeting was attended by top officials, including Ranjit Singh Deol, principal secretary of the education department, and education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh, among others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo It is expected to discuss the implementation of different govt schemes and programmes for the academic year 2025-26. An action plan for 'Vision 2047' is one of the key agendas of the meeting. Charting out a blueprint for upgrading the NEP tracker and implementing the Period Assessment Test, increasing enrolment in Adarsh and PM Shri schools, forming eco clubs in schools, reviewing the preparation of 'idol teachers' in Maharashtra and effectively implementing an addiction-free campaign in schools are among the key matters the meeting will look into. The meeting will also dwell upon methods of carrying out surprise visits and inspecting schools, checking the status of safety measures for students, implementing an accidental insurance policy for students, and taking action against illegal schools, the authorities said.
