14,500 Schools in India will be Upgraded Under the PM-SHRI Yojana 

Probable Question

Analyse the initiatives taken by the government in consonance with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

Context

Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that 14,500 schools across India will be upgraded to showcase components of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, the Union Cabinet approved a new centrally sponsored scheme be called PM SHRI Schools (PM Schools for Rising India) under which the initiative will be implemented.

The PM SHRI scheme

Under the scheme, 14,500 schools across India’s states and Union Territories will be redeveloped to reflect the key features of the NEP, 2020.

• The idea of PM SHRI, was to create a set of schools that would be able to act as “NEP labs”.

Key features of NEP 2020

• The NEP for schools envisages a curricular structure and teaching style categorised in four stages: foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary.
• The foundational years (pre-school and grades I and II) should involve play-based learning. 
• At the preparatory level (grades III-V), light textbooks are to be introduced along with some formal classroom teaching.
• Subject teachers are to be introduced at the middle level (grades VI-VIII). 
• The secondary stage (grades IX-XII) will be multidisciplinary, with no hard separation between arts and sciences or other disciplines.

Centrally Sponsored Scheme

• A centrally sponsored scheme is one in which the cost of implementation is sharedin a 60:40 ratio between the Union government and the states/UTs.
• The ratio is 90:10 in case of the Northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and UTs without legislatures.
• PM SHRI, KVs, JNVs:
• Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) are fully funded by the Union government under central sector schemes.
• While KVs largely cater to children of central government employees posted in states and UTs.
• JNVs were set up to nurture talented students in rural parts of the country.
• PM SHRI schools will be an upgrade of existing schools run by the Centre, states, UTs, and local bodies.

Important Features of PM SHRI

• The PM SHRI scheme will be application-based, which means states will have to identify schools for upgradation under the scheme.
• The portal will be opened four times a year, once every quarter, for the first two years of the scheme.
• The states and UTs interested in getting included under the PM SHRI scheme will have to first agree to implement the NEP in its entirety, along with meeting certain qualifying criteria.
• A physical inspection of the applicant school will be undertaken.
• Maximum two schools (one Elementary & one Secondary/ Senior Secondary) would be selected per block/ ULB (urban local body).

What’s the Difference

• They will be equipped with superior infrastructure  such as labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, art room, etc., 
• They shall also be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure and integration of organic lifestyle in curriculum. 
• These schools will also “offer mentorship” to other schools in their vicinity.
• In terms of the quality of education, there will be special modules on improving foundational literacy and numeracy. 
• Each school will be linked/ connected to higher education institutions for mentoring, and there will be provisions for internships with local artisans.

NEWS SOURCE - https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/pm-shri-education-scheme-national-education-policy-school-features-explained-8133816/

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