The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new centrally sponsored scheme PM SHRI Schools (PM Schools for Rising India).
This will be a new scheme for the development of more than 14,500 schools across the country as PM SHRI Schools by strengthening select existing schools being managed by central or state governments and 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.
Briefing the media here after cabinet meeting, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the PM SHRI schools will deliver quality teaching for the cognitive development of students and will strive to create and nurture holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st-century skills.
The scheme of PM SHRI schools (PM ScHools for Rising India) is to be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total project cost of Rs. 27360 crore which includes a central share of Rs 18,128 crore for five years from 2022-23 to 2026-27.The minister said PM SHRI Schools will provide leadership to other schools in their respective regions by providing mentorship.
Pradhan said more than 18 lakh students are expected to be direct beneficiaries of the scheme and further impact will be generated through the mentoring and handholding of the schools in the vicinity of PM SHRI schools.
An official release said PM SHRI will provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities of children and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the vision of NEP 2020.
The PM SHRI Schools will be developed as green schools, incorporating environment-friendly aspects like solar panels and LED lights, nutrition gardens with natural farming, waste management, plastic-free, water conservation and harvesting, the study of traditions/practices related to the protection of the environment, climate change related hackathon and awareness generation to adopt a sustainable lifestyle.
The pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based (particularly, in the foundational years) inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible and enjoyable.
The focus will be on the 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.