The Maharashtra state education commissioner has made school visits compulsory for all education officers after a dismal inspection record last year. Only 11,532 institutions out of over one lakh were inspected in 2023, prompting the new directive.
New Guidelines Issued
Education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh issued a circular earlier this week outlining a checklist of parameters for inspections. Officers must upload their reports on the Saral portal. Singh described last year's visit count as abysmal and set minimum targets for officials.
State-level officers are required to visit two schools every fortnight, while cluster heads must inspect at least five schools per week. The circular specifies that visits during exams, competitions, or other special occasions will not count as inspections.
Focus on Academics
Sharad Gosavi, primary education director of the state, explained the rationale: "This gives a clear guideline, a measurable target and the aspects which must be compulsorily checked. Here we are trying to concentrate more on the academic part rather than the infrastructural part, though that too is covered. This helps teachers be on their toes and makes officers more responsible about the schools under their jurisdiction. Getting data about a school on the computer and actually visiting a school, interacting with students and understanding their problems are entirely different things. The idea is to help the children flourish academically."
Addressing Concerns
Regarding concerns that some education officers previously demanded VIP treatment during visits, Gosavi emphasized that inspections are not punitive. "The inspection was not a tool for punishment but a way to get positive feedback so that the education department can decide the correct steps to be taken to improve the quality of education imparted in the school."
Inspection Checklist
Officers must check school premises, sanitation, attendance of teachers and students, and learning outcomes, among other aspects, during their inspections.
