Funds of Rs 27,360 Crore Approved By Cabinet For PM SHRI Scheme: Dharmendra Pradhan

New Delhi: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated on Wednesday that a budget of Rs 27,360 crore has been approved by the union cabinet for upgrading PM SHRI schools. Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the "Prime Minister's School for Rising India" program on Teachers' Day.

According to Pradhan, from 2022 to 2027, the Central Government will spend a total of Rs 27,360 crores to transform 14,597 institutions into model schools. The schools will get money through Direct Benefit Transfer for the first time (DBT). 14,500 schools will be "upgraded" across India as part of the new, centrally-sponsored PM SHRI scheme to comply with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

To ensure at least two schools in every block area, the Cabinet has also approved plans to establish playschools. Like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, the centre and state will divide the funding in a 60:40 pattern of which 18,128 crores will be the entire central share.

"The Government of India has introduced a distribution method called Special Nodal Accounts for particular ministries and programmes. Since all the benefits will go straight to the intended recipients—schools and students, all states have unanimously approved of this idea,” according to Pradhan.

According to the government, the programme is estimated to benefit more than 18 lakh kids directly. At the Cabinet briefing, Pradhan spent significant time challenging the Aam Aadmi Party's performance on education in Delhi. PM SHRI has sparked the current argument between the BJP and AAP over schools.

PM SHRI School

With "environmentally friendly characteristics like solar panels and LED lights, nutrition gardens with natural farming, waste management, plastic free, water conservation," among other green measures, the union government plans to transform PM SHRI schools into green schools. The educational system will emphasize "experiential and holistic" teaching that is more inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, adaptable, and pleasant.

As required by NEP 2020, Pradhan added, "We seek to shape children so that they can acquire jobs once they leave the institutions”. According to him, the schools would also have ICT and virtual labs that are technologically equipped. The government will choose PM SHRI schools through "challenge mode," in which schools compete for help to become exemplary schools. In each block, a maximum of two schools—one elementary and one secondary or senior secondary—will be chosen.

The schools will be chosen using 60 "point-based" criteria, including things like if there is access to drinking water, a playground, a boundary wall, and more. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya will be chosen for upgrading among public schools maintained by central, state, and municipal agencies, including Kendriya Vidyalaya and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

Additionally, a School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) is being created to evaluate the success of these schools' educational initiatives. To guarantee the desired standards, these institutions will undergo quality evaluations regularly. According to Pradhan, “The teachers will be able to identify students' difficulties in mathematics, English, or physics”.

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