The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Schools For Rising India (PM-SHRI) Yojana, which will upgrade 14,500 schools across the country to PM-SHRI schools. “Over 14,000 schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, will be strengthened to become PM-SHRI schools,” Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, said on Wednesday.
These schools will be model schools, embodying the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement on September 5, on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. “Today, on #TeachersDay, I am pleased to announce a new initiative – the development and improvement of 14,500 schools across India through the Pradhan Mantri Schools For Rising India (PM-SHRI) Yojana.” These will become model schools that embody the spirit of the NEP,” PM Modi said in a series of tweets.
According to the Prime Minister, the PM-SHRI schools will take a modern, transformational, and holistic approach to education. “They will emphasise a learning-centred, discovery-oriented approach to teaching.”
“In recent years, the National Education Policy has transformed the education sector. I am certain that the PM-SHRI schools will further benefit lakhs of students across India in the spirit of NEP,” he added.
According to the education ministry, these schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure such as labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, and art rooms, among other things, and will be inclusive and accessible. They will also be developed as “green schools,” with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure, and the integration of an organic lifestyle into the curriculum.
As per the vision of NEP 2020, they will provide leadership in their respective regions in providing high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive, and joyful school environment that takes care of children’s diverse backgrounds, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities and makes them active participants in their own learning process.