PM SHRI schools to carry NEP2020 mandate gets Cab nod
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, September 7: A month after the Varanasi brainstorming conclave on the implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020, the Union Cabinet in its meeting held on Wednesday gave nod to upgradation of over 14500 schools under a new Centrally sponsored scheme PM SHRI.
The initiative is one of the first after several decades in which the Centre will be intervening in scaling up the quality of education.
The Centre currently runs Kendriya Vidyalaya and Novaday Vidyalaya, while the three wings of the armed forces have their own schools.
The PM Shri will pick up the best of the schools to aim for presence in each district and blocks subsequently for the democratisation of education in line with the aims of the NEP2020, which principally seeks imparting lessons in mother tongues and skilling.
The PM SHRI stands for PM schools for rising India.
“This will be a new scheme for development of more than 14500 schools across the country as PM SHRI Schools by strengthening select existing schools being managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies. PM SHRI Schools will showcase all components of the National Education Policy 2020, act as exemplar schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity,” the Cabinet secretariat said in an official statement.
The scheme will cost Rs 27,360 crore, which includes a central share of Rs 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
The schools will aim for learning outcomes of every child in every grade.
“Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real life situations and will be competency-based,” added the government.
Besides, linkage with sector skill councils and local industry for enhancing employability and providing better employment opportunities will be explored, said the government, adding that a School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) is being developed, specifying the key performance indicators to measure outcomes.
Further, the scheme envisages convergence with existing schemes /Panchayati Raj Institutions/ Urban Local bodies and community participation for infrastructure upgradation of the school and creation of facilities.
Selection of PM SHRI schools will be done through challenge mode wherein schools compete for support to become exemplar schools. Schools would be required to self-apply on the online portal. The portal will be opened four times a year, once every quarter, for first two years of the scheme.
The government estimates that more than 18 lakh students are expected to be direct beneficiaries of the scheme.
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