**Maharashtra Announces Incentive Prizes for Excellence in Education Initiatives**
Zilla parishads and municipal corporations that excel in promoting quality and innovative education initiatives in Maharashtra will receive incentive prizes of Rs 5 crore for first place, Rs 3 crore for second, and Rs 2 crore for third position. This announcement was made by School Education Minister Shri Dadaji Bhuse on Friday during the inauguration of the two-day State-Level School Education Conference held in Balewadi, Pune.
The event saw the participation of key education officials, including School Department Principal Secretary Ranjit Singh Deol, Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh, Maharashtra Primary Education Council State Project Director Sanjay Yadav, State Educational Research and Training Council Director Rahul Rekhawar, State Examination Council Director Nandkumar Bedse, along with other directors and education officers from across the state.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Bhuse emphasised that education should be enjoyable, high-quality, comprehensive, and nationally relevant. He urged the department to implement innovative initiatives to position Maharashtra as a leader in education. Highlighting emerging areas, he focused on the role of artificial intelligence, technology integration, infrastructure development, the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Yojana, scholarship examinations, and the Nipun Bharat Abhiyan.
Bhuse also underlined the importance of educational trips for enriching student learning experiences. He suggested organizing visits to historical sites, agricultural activities, and banks to provide practical knowledge beyond the classroom.
Further, the minister announced special events, including an elocution competition to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Punyashloka Ahilyadevi Holkar and a quiz marking the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
On administrative reforms, Bhuse shared that the existing 15 school-level committees have been streamlined into four for enhanced efficiency. He confirmed that scholarship examinations for Class 4 and Class 7 will be resumed from the upcoming academic year.
Principal Secretary Ranjit Singh Deol stressed the critical role of local self-government bodies in prioritising education and health. He called upon municipal commissioners to ensure effective implementation of government initiatives at the grassroots level.
Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh elaborated on the quality of education, the National Education Policy (NEP), Nipun Bharat targets set for 2027, and ongoing school-level initiatives aimed at improving learning outcomes.
During the ceremony, Minister Bhuse also released the Teacher and Officer-Employee Competition Guide, featuring 36 competitions and six Olympiads. This guide was prepared under the expert guidance of Rahul Rekhawar.
The conference featured comprehensive discussions on the New Education Policy 2020, the PARAKH assessment survey report—designed to measure learning outcomes—administrative reforms, holistic education, and other key educational initiatives.
District officers presented innovative practices successfully implemented in their regions and were honoured by the minister with mementos and books.
Administrative matters including Class 11 admissions, the Group School Scheme for inclusive education, Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) Plus for maintaining school databases, and teacher recruitment approvals were also deliberated upon.
Prominent schemes from the Maharashtra Primary Education Council, NEP 2020 action programmes, competency-based question banks, e-Vidya channels, and yoga curriculum guides were highlighted to ensure effective implementation across schools.
In addition, Bhuse directed schools to organise annual gatherings, student sports competitions, and patriotic drills scheduled for January 26, 2026. He also announced an increase in prize money for science exhibitions to further encourage student participation and innovation.
This comprehensive conference marks a significant step towards strengthening the educational landscape in Maharashtra, fostering innovation, inclusivity, and excellence in schools across the state.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/maharashtra-announces-incentives-for-best-performing-zilla-parishads-municipal-corporations-in-education-23594869
