State Education Department Directs Teachers to Gather Parents’ WhatsApp Numbers to Support NIPUN Maharashtra Drive
State Education Department Directs Teachers to Gather Parents’ WhatsApp Numbers to Support NIPUN Maharashtra Drive
‘Nipun Maharashtra’ initiative aims to improve foundational learning and parent-teacher communication
The state school education department has launched a new effort under the ‘Nipun Maharashtra’ initiative to strengthen communication between schools and families. Teachers across government and aided schools in Maharashtra have been asked to collect and upload the WhatsApp numbers of students’ parents onto the SCERTM (State Council of Educational Research and Training Maharashtra) app. This move will enable subject-wise academic performance updates to be sent directly to parents via WhatsApp.
Launched on March 5, the Nipun Maharashtra programme seeks to ensure that every student from Standards II to V attains essential foundational learning skills. A key component of the programme is enhancing parental engagement through timely and accessible updates.
Education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh stated that class teachers from Standards I to XII are required to enter parents’ contact information into the SCERTM app. While teachers have been given until June 30 to complete this task, providing the contact number remains optional for parents. The directive applies only to government and aided schools, excluding unaided and self-financed institutions.
Teachers have also been encouraged to download and use the SCERTM app themselves, as part of a broader digital integration strategy. The app is designed to support the tracking of academic progress and improve the flow of communication between schools and households.
However, some educators question the necessity of duplicating efforts. A primary school teacher in Sangli, noted that parents’ mobile numbers are already collected through the UDISE+ platform and could have been repurposed for this initiative. He added that there have been discussions at the government level to reduce non-academic duties for teachers, and aligning new programmes with that goal would be more effective.
Looking ahead, the Nipun Maharashtra initiative envisions developing a more comprehensive digital education platform. This would include study materials, videos, and other audiovisual resources to help bridge learning gaps and support students in their foundational years.
By enhancing communication and resource accessibility, the education department aims to create a more transparent and supportive learning environment, one in which every child has the opportunity to succeed.
