Education experts to advise Maharashtra's education department on Singapore's teaching methods

Seventeen education experts who recently toured Singapore's public schools will be giving the state's education department suggestions on replicating some of the country's teaching methods.

The four-day tour in July was organised by state education minister Fauzia Khan. The experts included the chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), education inspectors, the secretary of the secondary school certificate board, and a few Mantralaya officials.

GK Mhamane, chairman of the MSBSHSE, said, "The state education minister and secretary had visited Singapore last year. So they wanted some officials to go there and see how their education system works. There are only 340 public schools in Singapore, each has 400-500 students. What we liked was their procedure for recruiting teachers. Extra-curriculum activities included teaching cookery. We will be giving our views on some ideas of the Singapore education system that can be adopted."

BB Chauhan, education inspector of the south zone, who was also part of the tour, said, "The recruitment of teachers is very strict there. It at fault, teachers are given warnings with grades between 'A' to 'D'. Public schools have more importance than private schools there. Wherever there are public schools, the property rates of houses are higher. We will being giving a presentation to the state in this regard."