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This is an archive article published on September 4, 2022

Take 5 | There will be blank pages after each chapter. Students won’t need notebooks: Deepak Kesarkar, Maharashtra education minister

As part of plan to reduce the weight of schoolbags, Maharashtra’s new education minister, Deepak Kesarkar, has proposed dividing textbooks in three parts and attaching blank pages, where students can take down notes

Maharashtra education, Maharashtra education department, Deepak Kesarkar interview, Deepak Kesarkar, weight of school bags, Mumbai news, Mumbai city news, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Maharashtra government, India news, Indian Express News Service, Express News Service, Express News, Indian Express India NewsMaharashtra Education minister Deepak Kesarkar. (File)

As part of plan to reduce the weight of schoolbags, Maharashtra’s new education minister, Deepak Kesarkar, has proposed dividing textbooks in three parts and attaching blank pages, where students can take down notes

1. What is the idea behind the initiative?

The idea is to divide textbooks into three parts, a system where there will be a new textbook per semester. For each part of the textbook, there can be blank pages after each lesson, which can be used as a notebook. Students will not have to carry separate notebooks.

2. Will the blank pages be enough for writing notes?

We want to give students the space to take notes after the lesson. This will inculcate the habit of noting things down and increase efficiency. Since the notes are next to the lesson, they become ready references when a student is preparing for that topic.

3. Will additional pages mean increased costs?

No. And if there is an additional cost of even Rs.70 to 80 crore, the government will bear it. I have the CM’s approval for funds.

4. When will the plan be implemented?

It should be ready by the time the new set of textbooks go for printing before the next academic year.

5. Is this going to be enough to ensure lighter bags?

Even as other items in a school bag continue, this initiative will have reduced a significant chunk of the load. After its implementation, we may not require any other initiative for this purpose.

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

 

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