In a bid to address the sleep patterns of students, Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais has urged the education department to consider adjusting school timings. Speaking at the launch of School Education Department initiatives at Raj Bhavan, Governor Bais emphasized the impact of late-night internet usage on children who then face early school mornings. He advocated for a shift in school schedules to help students attain their necessary sleep quota.
Governor Bais stressed the importance of making education enjoyable and breaking away from rigid textbook-based teaching. He highlighted the burden of heavy school bags on students and suggested creating an environment where bringing books to school is unnecessary. Some schools, he mentioned, have already encouraged students to leave their books on the premises.
Recognizing the extensive time students spend on mobile devices, Governor Bais proposed transitioning books to online formats such as audios and videos. He commended the state’s ‘reading movement’ campaign and urged the revival of libraries with the addition of new books. Additionally, he underlined the need to adopt and teach in the mother tongue. At the event, jointly attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, various initiatives were launched, including ‘My School, Beautiful School,’ ‘Story-telling Saturday,’ ‘Enjoyable Reading,’ ‘Adopt School Activity,’ ‘My School, My Backyard,’ and ‘Cleanliness Monitor.’ The initiatives aim to upgrade school infrastructure, create a competitive educational environment, increase student participation in decision-making processes, and encourage schools to conduct activities related to health, skill development, and financial literacy.