Maharashtra engages 1 million parents to teach basic skills

The initiative – called Nipun Bharat – was launched by the Education Ministry of India under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It was launched in the state five months ago to empower students of classes I to VIII with the skill under the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy.

Mumbai: To raise the standard of education in government-run schools, the state education department has engaged one million parents of class I to III students in teaching their wards basic skills. The state government has appointed an NGO to train these parents.

The state has appointed ‘Pratham’, an NGO, to educate parents of students from grades I to III throughout the state. The NGO has formed 2.5 lakh Mata-Palak groups (Mother-Parent Groups) in villages which have 1 million parents across the state, said Hemlata Sasane, project coordinator, Pratham. (HT PHOTO)

The initiative – called Nipun Bharat – was launched by the Education Ministry of India under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It was launched in the state five months ago to empower students of classes I to VIII with the skill under the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy.

“This scheme ensures that every child in India gains foundational numeracy and literacy by the end of class III. NIPUN Bharat focuses on transforming the monotonous education system into one that is integrated, enjoyable, all-inclusive, and engaging,” said Kailas Pagare, state project director, Samagra Shiksha’s Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad (MPSP).

The state has appointed ‘Pratham’, an NGO, to educate parents of students from grades I to III throughout the state. The NGO has formed 2.5 lakh Mata-Palak groups (Mother-Parent Groups) in villages which have 1 million parents across the state, said Hemlata Sasane, project coordinator, Pratham.

“Special efforts have been made in this initiative to ensure that children receive education both at home and at school. For this, a video is sent to parents every week in which parents are given new ideas to educate students. Each group’s leader keeps an eye on the fact that the parents provide education to the students at home,” Sasane added.

Pagare said parents have welcomed and are satisfied with this initiative. “The initiative has started increasing the understanding of children. By 2026, we aim to have foundational numeracy and literacy among 100 per cent of students up to class III in the state,” he added.

To impart such training to the students, Pagare said, one NGO has been appointed in each district for remedial studies of the students.

Sai Prasad, associate director, Leadership For Equity, an NGO appointed by the state to provide administrative support for educational advancement, said they are planning a roadmap on streamlining the implementation of various educational schemes, including Nipun Bharat, to coordinate at the state and district levels.

“We will be looking at the long-term planning of various activities carried out under the Department of Education through public policy and procedures and ensure that even if there are changes at the administrative level, it does not pose any threat to the projects,” he said.

The State Principals Federation’s spokesperson, Mahendra Ganpule, has questioned why the state government needs to appoint voluntary organisations instead of reaching out to people through a competent system like the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). He also questioned whether the government’s use of NGOs in educational work indicates a lack of faith in its system.