In a move to address educational challenges in rural Maharashtra, the state government has eased teacher-staffing requirements for the 2025-26 academic year. Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhoyar announced that secondary schools in remote areas can now have three teachers for Classes 9 and 10 if the student enrollment is 20 or more. This decision marks a significant departure from the previous rule, allowing three teachers only if the student count was at least 40 within a specific radius.
Following feedback from public representatives and a reassessment of the situation, the state revised its directives through an official letter on May 11, 2026. Bhoyar highlighted the disparity in educational options between urban and rural areas, emphasizing the need to prevent rural students, especially girls, from dropping out due to travel constraints. He assured that recruitment integrity remains a top priority, citing a High Court dismissal of a petition challenging the government’s directives.
To address recruitment anomalies, Bhoyar pledged to hold a special meeting with Teacher MLAs after the current assembly session. Additionally, the government plans to convene a high-level meeting to address the integration of contractual teachers in Gadchiroli’s PESA regions. Recruitment in these areas follows competitive processes such as the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and the Teacher Aptitude and Intelligence Test (TAIT).
In response to concerns about inadequate sanitation facilities for girls in state schools, Bhoyar announced a statewide survey to address infrastructure deficits. The government aims to complete necessary civil constructions within the next four to six months to ensure safe toilets, drinking water systems, and other essential amenities for schoolgirls. Plans include utilizing various funding sources like District Planning Committee (DPC) funds and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) allocations to expedite infrastructure improvements.
