The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme for the upgradation of 14,500 schools countrywide and has directed ₹27,360 crore for it for 5 years on Wednesday
- The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme for the upgradation of 14,500 schools countrywide and has directed ₹27,360 crore for it for 5 years on Wednesday.
- The Center will contribute to the scheme, which is to benefit 1.8 million students.
Union Cabinet
The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme for the upgradation of 14,500 schools countrywide and has directed ₹27,360 crore for it for 5 years on Wednesday. The Center will contribute to the scheme, which is to benefit 1.8 million students.
In a statement, the government has said that these schools will adopt more experimental and holistic pedagogy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scheme on Teachers’ Day on Monday, saying that these schools will be model institutes, encapsulating the full spirit of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Union Cabinet education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that existing schools managed by the Central government, states, union territories, and local bodies will be strengthened by the scheme. “PM SHRI Schools will showcase components of the NEP 2020, act as exemplary schools and offer mentorship to fellow schools in their vicinity.”
Pradhan said that the schools will have a registry for tracking enrollment and learning progress. “This initiative will be launched in all schools countrywide, and we are piloting it already in PM-SHRI schools from this year.”
Pradhan said that funds will be directly transferred to the schools via Direct Benefit Transfer mode. “Principals and school committees will bear the flexibility of deciding where to utilize 40% of the funds while transparent criteria will be set for this. Flexibility will be given to schools for the first time in our country.”
In a statement, the government said these schools will adopt a more experimental and holistic pedagogy as stated in NEP 2020 and use play-toy-based, discovery-oriented, inquiry-driven, learner-centered, discussion-based, flexible, and fun learning methods.
The statement said the selection for PM-SHRI will be done through “challenge mode” wherein schools will compete for support to become “exemplary”. “The schools are required to apply on an online portal which will be opened 4 times a year; 1 time every quarter, for the first 2 years of the scheme.”
The schools will also be developed as “green schools”, incorporating sustainability aspects such as solar panels, LED lights, nutrition gardens with natural farming, plastic-free, water conservation, waste management, and harvesting etc.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi over the modernisation of 14,500 schools under the scheme and said that it will take 100 years to upgrade government schools if they function at this pace. He requested Modi to prepare a plan for the development of all 1 million government-run schools in the country.
Kejriwal said that the condition of more than 80% of the government schools was terrible and that “If we give such education to our crores of children, how will India ever become a developed country?”
Kejriwal wrote the letter on the day he commenced Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s ‘Make India Number One’ campaign from Haryana. He has been citing his work in areas such as education and healthcare in Delhi as AAP seeks to exert influence beyond its stronghold.
AAP, which has formed the government in Punjab this year, fancies its chances in places such as Modi’s home state of Gujarat, where polls are due, with a focus on issues such as education.
