Delhi government shifts school head meetings online after PM Modi’s appeal to reduce travel

Ashish Sood has decided to conduct ongoing interaction sessions with heads of Delhi government schools entirely through virtual mode following an appeal by Narendra Modi to reduce avoidable travel and encourage more efficient governance practices.

The move is part of an outreach programme organised by the Directorate of Education to strengthen administrative coordination and improve school functioning across the national capital.

What the programme focuses on

The interaction sessions are designed to facilitate direct discussions between the Education Minister and government school heads on issues including:

• Academic planning

• Learning outcomes

• Infrastructure gaps

• Administrative coordination

• Student welfare

• Implementation of education initiatives

The programme is also intended to identify operational challenges faced by schools and improve policy execution at the ground level.

First session held physically

According to officials, the first session covering East Delhi Zones 1 and 2 was held on May 12 through physical interaction.

To reinforce the message of sustainable and accessible transport, Ashish Sood reportedly travelled to the venue using the Delhi Metro and later used a battery-operated rickshaw.

Following this session, authorities decided that all remaining meetings under the programme would be conducted virtually.

11 sessions planned across Delhi

The Directorate of Education has planned 11 interaction sessions covering all 28 education zones in Delhi.

The next online meeting is scheduled to include:

• Zone 24

• Zone 26

• Zone 27

• Zone 28

These zones fall under South, Central, and New Delhi districts.

Officials have directed regional and deputy directors of education to ensure participation from all government school heads under their jurisdiction.

Guidelines issued for online participation

The Directorate also released participation protocols for virtual meetings, including:

• Timely login by participants

• Use of official school names and designations

• Maintaining professional conduct during sessions

• Ensuring confidentiality of meeting links and proceedings

The guidelines aim to ensure administrative discipline and smooth coordination during online interactions.

Part of larger school review exercise

The virtual meetings are linked to a broader 11-day district-wise review campaign launched by the Delhi Education Department.

The exercise covers nearly 1,000 government schools and focuses on:

• Academic standards

• Infrastructure quality

• Administrative bottlenecks

• Student welfare concerns

• Safety and security issues

Officials said the review will also identify “dark spots” or unsafe areas within school premises from a student safety perspective.

Governance and sustainability angle

The decision reflects a broader governance trend toward:

• Digital administrative coordination

• Reduced official travel

• Lower logistical costs

• Sustainable public administration practices

The shift also demonstrates how virtual governance mechanisms introduced widely during the pandemic continue to influence administrative functioning in education systems.

For Delhi’s education administration, the online interaction model may allow faster coordination across zones while reducing travel-related disruptions for school officials and government staff.