Maharashtra to strengthen tribal and technical education

The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday approved key proposals to strengthen tribal and technical education in the state. The Cabinet cleared the upgradation of five primary Ashram schools to secondary level and 19 secondary schools to higher secondary level (junior colleges). The move is aimed at improving access to education for tribal students in remote and hilly areas and reducing dropout rates, especially among girls. The decision includes creation of 30 teaching posts and 25 non-teaching posts for secondary schools, and 148 teaching posts for junior colleges. 
In another decision, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a new Government Engineering College in Solapur from the academic year 2026-27. Three undergraduate courses-Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Computer Science, and Electronics & Telecommunication-will be introduced with a total intake of 180 students. The project involves an estimated expenditure of 157.66 crore rupees, along with Rs 11 crore for initial infrastructure. A total of 39 teaching and 38 non-teaching posts will be created.
The Cabinet also approved the transfer of Shri Tuljabhavani Engineering College at Tuljapur to the state government. The institute will be renamed as Government Engineering College, Tuljapur. The government plans to introduce new-age courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cyber Security. A total of 118 posts have been sanctioned for the institution.