British Council – Government of Maharashtra’s 10-year long partnership upskills 1.46 lakh teachers, Enables high quality education for 4.38 million students

REPEATING WITH CORRECTION

Mumbai, 21 October 2021 (GNI): British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, and the Government of Maharashtra today marked 10 years of partnership in driving successful teacher training programmes. During this period (2012-2021), the programmes successfully trained nearly 2,000 master trainers and 146,000 teachers, benefitting 4.38 million learners in the government schools.

An independent evaluation report on the programme was unveiled in the presence of Ms. Varsha Gaikwad, Hon’ble Minister of School Education, Government of Maharashtra and Dr. Jovan Ilić, Director West India, British Council in Mumbai today. The ceremony acknowledged partners including Tata Trusts, and key stakeholders who contributed to the success of these initiatives including government officials, English Subject Assistants (ESAs), State Academic Resource Persons (SARPs), and Teacher Activity Group (TAG) Coordinators.

The third-party evaluation report assesses the extent of reach and measurable impact of British Council’s work in Maharashtra over the past decade. It offers a thorough review of the British Council’s contribution to the transformation of teacher education in terms of its relevance and coherence with state’s needs and objectives, its effectiveness, efficiency, impact and potential sustainability. The report also provides evidence-based recommendations and predictions guiding future teacher education programmes in the state, ranging from consideration of gender-related factors and opportunities for the increased adoption of technology.

Over 2012-2021, the Government of Maharashtra commissioned four distinct projects that aimed at improving English language proficiency of in-service primary and secondary school teachers, and students, across the State of Maharashtra.

Speaking at the completion ceremony, Ms. Varsha Gaikwad, Hon’ble Minister of School Education Department, Government of Maharashtra, said, “Our State Government is dedicated to improving the standard of teaching and learning for millions of students. We are pleased with the impact report presented by the British Council. Our partnerships with the British Council, have led to a significant improvement in the competency of the teachers, which has resulted in higher quality education for our students year on year.

Dr Jovan Ilić, Director West India, British Council said We are delighted to be a long-term partner of the Government of Maharashtra, to improve the level of English proficiency in government schools and supporting the state government’s knowledge ambitions. Through our various projects, we have strived to bring in long-term reform to support the creation of a school education system that enables sustained positive outcomes; and through teachers’ sustained development, prepares students to succeed in an increasingly competitive world of education and employment, stated in the press release.ends