Scout-Guide training made compulsory in schools of all media across Maharashtra, says Dada Bhuse

School Education Minister Dada Bhuse has directed that Scout-Guide training be made compulsory in schools of all media in the state. About 1 lakh 8 thousand schools will come under its ambit, and around 2 crore 10 lakh students of these schools will receive the training.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister Dada Bhuse. The meeting was told that the Scout-Guide programme would be extended to all schools. At present, about 17 lakh 33 thousand students of 30,000 schools in the state receive Scout-Guide training. Bhuse has asked that the training be extended to schools of all media in the state.

The School Education Department is working with the idea of "Rashtra Pratham" (Nation First) at its centre. For this reason, Scout-Guide education has been described as necessary in all schools. Under this initiative, parade, marching and drill to patriotic songs are to be made compulsory. Bhuse also directed that, under the "Anandadayi Shanivar" initiative, two hours a week be set aside for this "Rashtra Pratham" idea.

Teachers of schools are to be given seven days of training at the tehsil level for the Scout-Guide programme. Bhuse said the School Education Department will bear the fees of students of Zilla Parishad schools and the honorarium of trainers.

At present, students who win a State Award are given three marks and those who win a President's Award are given ten marks. Bhuse directed officials to prepare a proposal to increase these marks.

Principal Secretary Ranjitsingh Deol, School Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh (online) and SCERT Director Mangesh Joshi (online) were present at the meeting. Deputy Secretary Tushar Mahajan, Scout-Guide Assistant State Secretary Ramesh Jadhav and officials of the School Education and Sports Department were also present.