Why in the News?
The Kerala government has formally signed the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) agreement with the Union Ministry of Education, seeking approximately ₹1,446 crore to modernize government schools across the State.
About the PM-SHRI Scheme:
- Objective: To upgrade and modernize government schools as model institutions of quality education aligned with New Education Policy, 2020.
- Purpose: Promote inclusive, equitable, and holistic education, integrating digital tools, environmental awareness, and vocational learning.
- Overview: Launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Education as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Scale & Duration: Targets 14,500 schools across India from 2022–23 to 2026–27, after which states will maintain benchmarks independently.
- Funding Pattern: 60:40 (Centre: States/UTs with legislature), 90:10 (North-Eastern & Himalayan States), and 100% Central assistance (UTs without legislature).
Key Features of PM-SHRI Schools:
- Holistic Learning: Focus on creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking beyond rote academics.
- Pedagogical Shift: Promotes experiential, inquiry-driven, and multilingual education with art and technology integration.
- Infrastructure Upgradation: Includes Smart Classrooms, Integrated Science & Computer Labs, Vocational/Skill Labs, Atal Tinkering Labs, and Digital Libraries.
- Green Practices: Encourages solar power use, waste recycling, rainwater harvesting, and organic gardening to create sustainable campuses.
- Assessment Reform: Moves from memorization to competency-based evaluation, measuring conceptual understanding and application.
- Innovation Focus: Acts as incubators of educational innovation, influencing reforms across India’s public school system.
Selection and Monitoring Mechanism:
- Three-Stage Process:
- Stage 1 – MoU signed by States/UTs committing to NEP-aligned reforms.
- Stage 2 – Identification of eligible schools using UDISE+ data.
- Stage 3 – Challenge Mode competition reviewed by an Expert Committee headed by the Education Secretary.
- Monitoring System: Implemented via School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) evaluating academic, infrastructural, and administrative standards.
- Accountability: Continuous digital evaluation, reporting, and performance tracking ensure transparency and sustained improvement.
| [UPSC 2017] What is the purpose of Vidyanjali Yojana?
1. To enable the famous foreign campuses in India. 2. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community. 3. To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools. Select the correct answer using the code given below: Options: (a) 2 only *Â (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 2 and 3 only |
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