Maharashtra government approves R’s 976-crore STARS project

MUMBAI: The state cabinet on Wednesday, January 20, sanctioned a Rs 976-crore World Bank- funded (WB) project for betterment and enhancement in the quality and governance of school education in Maharashtra.

The project, Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS), is to get central financial help of Rs 586 crore and run for five years. The Centre had earlier chosen Maharashtra and five other states – Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha, for the project, to which WB had committed Rs 3,700 crore.

Focusing on improving the delivery of education services at the state, districts and the sub-district levels, the STARS project to be implemented by the school education department under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan will design reforms for enhancing learning assessment systems, strengthening classroom instructions, facilitating school-to-work transition and strengthening governance of schools.

Approximately 1.6 crore students and more than 2.5 lakh teachers will benefit from the project. The government has said that priority will be given to improve learning outcomes of students coming from financially and socially backward classes.