Maharashtra Minister Gets Face Printed on State Test Results

Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde thinks it’s cool to put his face on Class 10 aptitude test results.

Vinod Tawde, Education Minister, Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter.com/@TawdeVinod)

Maharashtra Education Minister has managed to put his face in the papers again and this time not just newspapers. Tawde’s picture appeared on an aptitude test result meant for class 10 students in the state, reports The Times of India.

Schools in the state provide class 10 students with an aptitude test called Kalchachni, which is supposed to help the students with further choices in education. This year, around 15 lakh students had appeared for the test, reports the Hindustan Times.

The results of the test, which had Tawde’s face printed on it, were provided along with the class 10 marksheets to the students.

Withholding the name of the person, the reports quotes a trustee of a school in the state, who said:

The certificate mentions the student’s name, roll number and suggests a field suitable to his/her aptitude. What is the need for Tawde’s photograph there? This is completely unacceptable and it seems to be a self-promotion campaign.

The state Congress party did not miss the opportunity to attack the Minister, who was in the news last year for an alleged fake degree. The Congress had demanded his resignation back then. Youth Congress member from Nagpur, Shelke, said that his organisation will approach the education department demanding answers on why this was allowed.

To this, Tawde responded, saying it was just his way of reaching out to the students personally:

First of all, it is not a mark sheet, it’s a certificate. My photo has been printed with my quote and this is called direct and effective communication with students. The aptitude test is a good initiative which is helping the kids and the Congress could never think of anything like this for years. It is sad that rather than appreciating something positive, they are making an issue out of it.

An official from the Education Department defended the move, saying the test was an added benefit provided by the state. “What’s wrong with the Minister’s photo being put on it?” he asked.