Maharashtra ashram schools to turn English medium

Mumbai: Tribal students in rural areas of the Maharashtra will now be able to study in English medium schools. The state government has decided to convert ashram schools to English and semi-English medium schools in a bid to provide these students an English medium education.

In the first phase of the scheme, the medium of education in 50 government-run ashram schools will be changed to English and semi-English.

The 50 schools include seven schools in Thane; 26 in Nashik; and 13, each, in Amravati and Nagpur districts.

With this, nearly 2,000 students will be enrolled in English medium schools every year.

In the aforementioned  schools, English medium classes will be held from the first standard and the subjects of English and Maths will be taught in English from sixth standard onward, said government officials.

There are 502 government-run ashram schools for tribal students in remote areas of the state. Of these, students in 121 schools get  higher secondary education.

The students in these government-run ashr-am schools, which has nearly  2.4 lakh students, are taught in Marathi, according to the syllabus of the State Education Board.

There is a growing demand among tribals for English medium schools.  The move will help tribal students get better education.

“It will also help them take up specialised education i.e. medical, paramedical, engineering etc., said tribal development minister Ashok Uike.

The state government has also decided to open 25 new CBSE schools in tribal dominated area.

Under the Eklavya Model Residency School (EMRS), the state has received sanctions and financial assistance from the centre to open 25 schools for tribals.

Under the scheme, schools will conduct classes for students from standard VI to XII.

“However, it has observed that these students would find their academics easier and grasp more if they were provided with English medium CBSE schooling from the first grade itself,” Mr Uike added.