Varsha Gaikwad quits as Maharashtra school education minister

NEW DELHI: Varsha Gaikwad has stepped down from the position of school education minister of Maharashtra. “It was an honour to serve Maharashtra as the School Education minister these past 2.5 years. I am glad we could take steps to better a child's school going experience in the state,” the minister said on social media. The minister thanked the Congress leadership, Mahavikas Aghadi and the people of the state for the opportunity of serving as education minister.

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“Signed off as School Education Minister, Maharashtra yesterday with these two decisions close to my heart…,” Gaikwad said in a tweet.

Signed off as School Education Minister, Maharashtra yesterday with these two decisions close to my heart...

1) Happiness curriculum will be introduced from this year for Std 1 to 8 in all government & aided Marathi medium schools. #mindfullness#happinesscurriculum
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/wV3XkRDo0e

— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) June 30, 2022

The two decisions, Gaikwad mentioned are, “Happiness curriculum will be introduced from this year for Std 1 to 8 in all government & aided Marathi medium schools,” and “a 15% concession in the qualifying marks for defence personnel and families of martyred soldiers in the Teacher Eligibility Test in Maharashtra.”

“Protecting the country is the greatest service to the nation. It is our duty to stand by them and their families,” the minister added.

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Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will be the new chief minister of Maharashtra, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said he is quitting the post. "I am also quitting as member of Legislative Council," Thackeray said in a webcast. His announcement came minutes after the Supreme Court refused to stay Maharashtra Governor's direction to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government to take a floor test in the Assembly on Thursday.