Madhya Pradesh’s School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh held a departmental review at the ministry today and directed officials to accelerate efforts to improve the state’s school education system before the new academic session.
Madhya Pradesh school education priorities for the new session
Singh said it is the government’s duty to provide high-quality education that secures a better future for children. He reviewed progress on several flagship initiatives, expressing satisfaction with timely measures such as Class 1 enrolment drives and the distribution of free textbooks, bicycles, scooters and laptops to beneficiaries.
Officials were instructed to maintain strict timelines for scheme roll-out and to simplify procurement processes within regulatory norms so that projects meet both quality and deadline requirements. Singh stressed that these steps are in line with both national expectations and state leadership directives to strengthen the overall school education system.
Aligning instruction with the National Education Policy
Referring to the National Education Policy 2020, the minister welcomed the progress made so far and highlighted two complementary priorities. First, he emphasised the importance of primary instruction in the mother tongue to make early learning accessible and engaging. Second, he urged the inclusion of global languages and other skills that will help pupils compete and succeed in an international context.
To bridge foundational and future-ready skills, Singh directed the continued expansion of coding training for pupils in Classes 6 to 8. He also ordered the operation of vocational AI and IT courses under business education from Class 9 in roughly 3,300 high and higher secondary schools across the state.
Infrastructure, sanitation and resource allocation
Under the Kayakalp campaign, the minister asked for weekly reviews of progress to ensure basic facilities are available at schools. He called for proposals to construct boundary walls to be included in the upcoming annual plan and urged the central government to consider support where needed. Singh also demanded the prompt availability of fully functional girls’ toilets in all institutions.
To improve school maintenance, he advised that contingency funds be increased where necessary through appropriate budget provisions.
Private school support and promotional outreach
Singh directed that all textbooks be printed before the next session and ordered that students in private schools following the state board curriculum be offered the same quality textbooks at reduced rates. He asked officials to consult private schools to assess demand and to publicise this facility widely among parents and pupils.
Sports talent identification and long-term planning
The minister instructed officials to identify outstanding athletes at the school level and to ensure provision of coaching and facilities. He asked for pupils’ sporting interests and talents to be recorded on the departmental portal to create a database that can be shared with the sports department. This will allow targeted training and support as part of long-term objectives, including preparation aligned with national sporting goals towards 2036.
Singh’s directions underscore a twin focus on strengthening foundational learning and equipping students with 21st-century skills. The state aims to couple infrastructure improvements with curriculum enhancements and targeted support to both government and private school pupils ahead of the coming academic year.
Key Takeaways:
- Minister Uday Pratap Singh orders timely implementation of textbook, bicycle, scooter and laptop distribution and Class 1 enrolment drives.
- Emphasis on NEP 2020 priorities including mother-tongue primary teaching and coding and AI/IT courses in schools.
- Infrastructure upgrades under the Kayakalp campaign, girls’ toilets and boundary walls to be prioritised with weekly progress reviews.
- Private schools to receive quality textbooks at reduced cost and a sports talent database to support athlete development for long-term goals.
