Maharashtra Education Minister Promises Relief for Teachers, Tackles Non-Teaching Duties

Igatpuri, Maharashtra: Maharashtra’s School Education Minister, Dada Bhuse, has pledged to reduce the number of non-teaching duties assigned to teachers across the state, following years of protests from educators burdened by additional administrative tasks. Speaking at an educational development workshop in Igatpuri on Monday, Bhuse assured that the government would significantly cut down on extra-curricular and non-academic responsibilities for teachers, reducing them by half in the future.

Teachers in rural areas have long struggled with tasks like Aadhaar verification and managing students' bank accounts—duties they argue should fall to parents. Bhuse emphasized that a new approach would streamline administrative work by merging school committees into a single active committee.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act prohibits teachers from taking on non-academic duties unless required for specific purposes like elections or census work. In response to mounting teacher complaints, the Maharashtra government appointed a committee in January 2024 to investigate the issue. Their report recommends focusing on education-related tasks for teachers and suggests setting up a separate system for managing school nutrition records.

Teachers like Vijay Kombey and Mahendra Ganpule have welcomed the move but urged the government to act swiftly, particularly with exams approaching. The reduction of non-teaching tasks will not only ease the pressure on educators but will also help improve the quality of education in the state.