What is the PM-SHRI scheme?
According to the Ministry of Education, the scheme will cover 14,500 existing schools, which will be redeveloped to reflect the key features of the new National Education Policy, 2020. The plan to launch the PM SHRI scheme was first discussed with the education ministers of states and UTs, at a conference which was organised by the Ministry of Education at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in June. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had then said that the initiative will be taken forward after consulting states. Pradhan also added that while there are exemplary schools such as Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, PM SHRI will act as NEP labs.
How will PM-SHRI benefit schools and students?
Prime Minister Modi said that the institutions which will be developed under the scheme, will become 'model schools' and will capture the essence of NEP. According to the PM, the National Education Policy has transformed the education sector in the last few years. He further said that the schools will adopt a modern, transformational and holistic approach of imparting education. The schools will lay an emphasis on a discovery-oriented, learning-centric way of teaching. Smart classrooms, sports, and latest technology will also be the focus.
The schools will be upgraded with labs, libraries, and art rooms. They will be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure, and integration of the organic lifestyle as part of the curriculum.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also said earlier that PM-SHRI will be fully equipped to prepare students for the future and these state-of-art schools will be the laboratory of NEP 2020.They will also offer leadership to other schools in the region for making the learning environment more joyful, while simultaneously improving educational outcomes.
According to NEP's vision, the PM-SHRI scheme aims to provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive, and joyful school environment, one that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs and different academic abilities of children. It also aims to ensure that students are participants in their learning process.
What is a centrally sponsored scheme?
Since the PM-SHRI scheme is sponsored by the Central govt, the 60 per cent cost of the implementation cost will be borne by the Centre, while the remaining 40 per cent will be borne by the state or UT. However, in some states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, the contribution of the Central govt can go up to 90 per cent.
What are some other central schemes for students?
In September 2021, the government approved a new meal scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman scheme (PM Poshan Scheme) for government and government-aided schools. The original midday meal scheme is a part of this programme.
Under this initiative, the government provides hot-cooked meals to students, which is expected to benefit about 118 million students, studying in classes 1 to 8 across the country.
The centre has also launched some scholarship schemes, which include PRAGATI (Scholarship for Girl Students) and PM Yashasvi Scheme for students from the Other Backward Classes, economically backward classes, and non-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes among others.
