Maharashtra's school education department’s circular requesting students to take a selfie with their parents while posing with a letter from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the various initiatives undertaken by the state in education has drawn parents and teachers' ire who have questioned its intent ahead of elections. The government had designed a website () where students were to upload their selfies with a ten-word slogan on education. As per the circular, the winning entry from each district will get a cash prize and an opportunity to be part of a formal lunch/dinner with the CM in Mumbai along with three family members and a teacher. According to the circular dated February 16, issued by Commissioner of Education, the move was part of a larger initiative launched by the state last called 'Mukhyamantri Mazi Shala, Sundar Shala' (Chief Minister My School, Beautiful School). Under it, the CM had written a two page letter in Marathi two weeks ago addressing schoolchildren where he spoke about various academic initiatives undertaken by the state to ensure quality education. In the letter, he also appealed to parents and alumni members of schools to contribute towards the holistic development of their respective schools. The circular stated the letter was sent to over 2.11 crore schoolchildren across Maharashtra. The circular issued yesterday came with an attached flowchart manual instructing parents on how they were supposed to upload their children's selfies to the website. The process required parents to submit their mobile numbers on the website as well. The initiative is being held from February 17 to 25, 2024 and the circular has asked schools to ensure this is acted upon. It also included students taking online pledges to develop reading habits. Parents have however questioned the letter suspecting political intention. A parent activist, Nitin Dalvi said, “The government is bringing politics into schools by asking children to engage in such activities. I was told that it is not mandatory after I started asking questions in my child’s school. But all parents are not going to question, especially when the circular conveniently does not mention that it is not mandatory. Moreover, schools will be under the obligation to show maximum participation.” Dalvi added that children were currently caught-up with exam preparations and the time was not right to ask children to engage in non-academic activities. One teacher also pointed out safety concerns while echoing the argument of incorrect timing. “We ask parents to keep children away from mobile phones, not to upload their photos on the internet for safety reasons. Then why is the government issuing contradictory instructions?” A teacher said. A teacher from a south Mumbai school said, “When the initiative was first started, it was only called 'Mazi Shala, Sundar Shala' (My School, Beautiful School) where schools were expected to hold activities related to cleanliness, growing gardens in schools and doing other infrastructural beautification with an aim to create awareness about the importance of cleanliness among children. We do not know when and how it became about the Chief Minister.” One parent said, “Earlier this week, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) too had issued a circular on the same initiative, asking students to write 50-60 word essays on topics which were – letters to the CM and my opinion on the education system. We fail to understand the relation of these topics with the concept of a beautiful school.”
