Pragat, Digital schools double: Survey

Mumbai: The number of ‘Pragat’ and ‘Digital’ schools in the state has doubled, according to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2017-18. Pragat schools were set up in 2015 to identify the basic capabilities of the students to ensure age and grade- wise education to all.

The government of Maharashtra (GoM) in the year 2015 launched these schools under  ‘Pragat Shaikshanik Maharashtra’(Progressive in Education) to raise educational standards in all the schools across the state by providing the students appropriate
proficiency in reading, writing and arithmetical concepts and operations. In Digital schools, students are given tablets, computers with internet facility and LCD screens for power-point presentation.    

Numbers of Pragat schools in Maharashtra have jumped from 24,687 in the 2016-17 academic year to 47,973 this academic year – 2017-18 (up to January). A similar growth is seen in the gigital schools which have increased from 27,686 to 63,458 this academic year.

The primary aim of these schools is to ensure that no child is below standard level.  

‘State Learning Achievement Survey’ has been conducted to identify the basic capability and learning level of students and accordingly have been given trainings. Around 5,07,440 teachers received need based and demand-driven training regarding Pragat and Digital schools this year.

Three main tests are taken during the academic year for all the students from class 1 to 7. One of them is a basic test and the other two are evaluation tests under continuous and comprehensive evaluation. These tests are conducted twice a year before the student’s regular semester examinations.

While the question papers and syllabus and conducting of these exams are done by the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training Institute (MSCERT) however, the assessment process is done by the teachers of the schools itself.

The area of focus of these tests is to give the teachers an idea about how the students are doing academically. Based on the results, teachers will focus on the problematic areas, and thus help to make the academic knowledge of the students better.