New English medium schools: 2,100 applications shortlisted in Maharashtra

Out of 7,000 applications received by the state education department for the sanction of new English medium schools, 2,100 have been shortlisted. The final decision about the sanction will be taken in next eight days based on various criteria.

Cabinet sub committee of the school education department, led by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, met on Monday to discuss various issues related to the department. Two committees — one of state and another on district level — were appointed to shortlist the applications. It was based on criteria including infrastructure, manpower, space, population and the need of the school.

The school education department had also announced the extension of the online admission process for junior college to all municipal corporations and councils from the next academic year. An official from the department said that all the 22 civic bodies will have the online admission process.

The state, however, gave in to political pressure and decided to stay the process of expression of interests for the mechanised mid-day meal facility in 70,000 primary schools. However, the department faced a lot of pressure from political leaders, who contended that the new move will largely affect the future of the women self help groups. The groups have been allotted the contract of the scheme for three years.

School education minister Rajendra Darda said that the sub committee has decided to maintain status quo till further decision. The official said that the department will go ahead with the implementation of the mechanised mid-day meal scheme in the primary schools in at least Aurangabad and Nagpur.