Satam seeks BMC-funded study trips to Isro, Singapore or Japan for meritorious students

MUMBAI: The city’s civic schools could soon send some of their brightest students to Isro and abroad, with city BJP chief Ameet Satam has proposed educational study trips to give meritorious students greater exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

MUMBAI: The city’s civic schools could soon send some of their brightest students to Isro and abroad, with city BJP chief Ameet Satam has proposed educational study trips to give meritorious students greater exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Satam has urged BMC chief Ashwini Bhide and mayor Ritu Tawde to select 50 meritorious students each from classes 8 and 9 and arrange study trips to Isro and either Singapore or Japan, respectively. The proposal is aimed at exposing students to advances in STEM and helping them develop skills beyond the classroom.

The proposal comes amid the ‘School Thik Karo’, a three-step audit initiative to identify and address shortcomings in government schools across villages in India, taken up by Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, as well as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s outreach to Gen Z.

Satam made the proposal as deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde held a four-hour meeting at his official residence, Nandanvan, in Mumbai, with School Education minister Dada Bhuse and senior officials of the state education department to review Maharashtra’s education sector.

Shinde directed the department to prepare a clear, comprehensive and time-bound action plan to modernise schools and bring about visible and qualitative improvements in the state’s education system.

In his letter to Tawde and Bhide, Satam said the proposed study trips would give BMC’s meritorious students greater exposure and help enhance their STEM skills. He also referred to the civic body’s plan to inaugurate its first school equipped with an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics laboratory in Juhu.

“I would like to propose that BMC select 50 meritorious students each from Classes 8 and 9 and make arrangements for them to undertake study trips to ISRO and Singapore or Japan, respectively. Adequate arrangements should be made to enhance their skills in STEM so that we give the best possible exposure to our talented students,” Satam said.

He also pointed out that a budgetary provision had been made under the ‘Teach Mumbai’ head, which, he said, could be utilised for the proposed study trips. The proposal was made on the same day as Shinde’s meeting with Bhuse and senior officials, which focused on various initiatives and schemes undertaken by the Education Department and the progress made on them. Shinde said MLAs and MPs should be encouraged to adopt schools in their constituencies and contribute to their development through available funds and local resources.

He said greater participation by elected representatives, parents and local communities could significantly accelerate school development. He also called for leveraging the professional capabilities and resources of the corporate and industrial sectors.

In the coming weeks, Shinde said, he would hold meetings with corporate representatives and industry leaders to seek professional expertise, technology, training, resources and other forms of support for the modernisation of government schools.

“The aspirations of our children are changing and their dreams are changing. Our schools must change accordingly. We must create a modern, quality and future-ready education system that prepares every child in Maharashtra for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow,” Shinde said.

The proposed action plan will focus on bringing education experts and experienced teachers on board, strengthening teacher training, motivation and capacity-building programmes, and encouraging and recognising teachers who demonstrate excellence and innovation. Shinde also asked the department to ensure the effective and timely implementation of various central government education schemes in Maharashtra so that their benefits reach schools and students across the state.

The meeting comes amid growing scrutiny of the condition of government schools. Last week, Dipke visited several schools in the state and highlighted shortcomings in the system.

Shinde also emphasised that education must go beyond the curriculum and examinations, with the physical, mental, intellectual and emotional well-being of students placed at the centre of the education system.

He directed officials to give greater attention to regular health check-ups and nutrition, review the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and introduce initiatives focused on students’ mental health and emotional well-being.

The deputy CM stressed the need to make parents, alumni and local communities active partners in improving schools and education. He also directed the education department to effectively communicate its good work and successful initiatives to the people, so that parents and citizens are aware of the positive changes taking place across Maharashtra’s schools.

“If our schools change, the future of our students will change. And if the future of our students changes, the future of Maharashtra will change. It is our collective responsibility to take every good initiative in education forward in mission mode and ensure that its benefits reach our students,” said Shinde.