Pune: In a move to alleviate the burden of non-teaching responsibilities on educators, the School Education and Sports Department of Maharashtra has issued a formal order classifying educational and non-educational tasks for teachers.

The new guidelines aim to ensure that teachers focus more on their primary role of teaching, which is critical for the academic and holistic development of students.

According to the order, teachers are now mandated to perform specific educational tasks such as entering data into the SARAL system, conducting literacy surveys, identifying children who are not enrolled in schools, and ensuring their enrollment in nearby institutions. These tasks are deemed essential for maintaining educational standards in the state.

The guidelines emphasize that under the Right to Education Act, it is compulsory to have a minimum of 200 teaching days for primary classes and 220 teaching days for upper primary classes annually.

However, the practice of assigning non-educational duties to teachers has been a longstanding issue, leading to concerns about its impact on students' education. To address these concerns, a government-formed committee reviewed the situation and proposed a clear classification of tasks.

Educational tasks as defined by the new guidelines include teaching the prescribed curriculum, using modern technology to enhance subject knowledge, conducting continuous evaluations, and ensuring that every student achieves the expected learning outcomes.

Teachers are also responsible for tracking student progress up to the 12th grade, preparing students for various scholarship exams, and organizing extracurricular activities such as arts and sports competitions. Additionally, they are to observe significant days such as national leaders' anniversaries and fulfill roles on school committees.

On the other hand, non-educational tasks have been restricted. These include participating in village-level campaigns, such as cleanliness drives, serving on village committees, organizing exams for other institutions, and conducting various surveys.

The guidelines also discourage teachers from attending non-essential training sessions, workshops, and programs without prior government approval.

The department hopes that these measures will allow teachers to dedicate more time to their students and improve the overall quality of education in the state.