Maharashtra Govt To Launch 'IDOL' Initiative To Recognise Top Teachers And Schools For Statewide Reference

Mumbai: The state government has announced an initiative to establish a Bank of IDOL teachers and educational institutions. Issued on Wednesday, the government resolution states that the initiative is intended to identify teachers and schools that have shown specific outcomes and to use their work as a reference for others in the state.

The decision follows actions to ensure that every child in the state receives education. The aim is to identify teachers and schools whose work can be used by others, allowing for shared learning and replication of methods. This step is also meant to encourage teachers and schools to apply methods and maintain a standard of delivery.

Committees will be formed at the taluka, district, divisional, and state levels. These committees will select teachers and schools based on official data such as Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF), Systematic Administrative Reforms for Achieving & Learning by Students (SARAL), and school visits. No applications or direct nominations will be accepted. Members of the committees will include education officers, trainers, and persons from the education sector.

Teachers will be assessed on a 100-point scale. The criteria include student results, teaching methods, attendance, contribution to activities like cleanliness, participation in school functions, and efforts to involve parents. Consideration will also be given to the extent of student participation in competitions and events.

Schools will be assessed based on enrolment figures, student outcomes, infrastructure management, involvement of the community, and implementation of government schemes such as the “Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala” initiative. The scores from different categories will determine their inclusion in the Bank.

Teachers selected will take part in training programmes and development sessions conducted by SCERT and other institutions. Their teaching methods and material will be documented and published in text, video, and audio formats. Schools selected will host visits from other institutions and will be asked to show their practices to visiting teams. Meetings and events will include sessions led by these selected individuals and institutions.

The government has also directed that these teachers and institutions be acknowledged at various levels. This move is expected to build a network of reference schools and teachers who can help others and contribute to planning and delivery.