Yogi govt to upgrade 928 PM SHRI schools at the cost of Rs 404 crore in 1st phase of scheme

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized on Thursday that amidst the global challenges posed by COVID, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only safeguarded the country’s population of 140 crores but also introduced a new education policy.

“This foundational initiative has motivated us to propel the vision of a ‘new India’ forward. The PM SHRI School Scheme is a crucial component of this initiative. In the first phase of PM SHRI, 928 schools with classes from first grade to 12th will be upgraded at the cost of Rs 404 crore,” the CM noted.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said these things during the inauguration of the modernization work of PM Shri Schools with a sum of Rs 404 crore and transfer of funds of Rs 347 crore for saturation of infrastructure facilities in secondary schools under ‘Project Alankar’ organized at Lok Bhavan on Thursday.

Criticizing the previous governments for neglecting educational facilities in the state, the CM stated, “Before 2017, underprivileged children in the state were compelled to attend schools lacking facilities, teachers, or connectivity. Moreover, these schools were on the brink of closure.”

Since assuming office, we initiated the upgrading of basic schools through Operation Kayakalp. Presently, 96 percent of basic schools have been upgraded through Operation Kayakalp. These enhancements include additional classes, toilets, labs, and the introduction of smart classes, he added.

During the event, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and CM Yogi distributed appointment letters to newly selected Group B officers. Before this, CM Yogi visited an exhibition organized by children at Lok Bhavan. Tablets were handed over to several principals to integrate schools with technology, and certificates were presented to various teachers for conducting smart classes.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized the significance of the School Chalo Abhiyan, initiated to prevent dropouts, which successfully connected every teacher, officer, and public representative. “As a result, there has been an increase of 40 lakh children attending schools. During the campaign, it was observed that children were attending school barefoot and in shirts during cold weather. In response, the government is disbursing funds through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in April for children’s bags, books, sweaters, and shoes.”

The CM further said that to address the shortage of teachers in schools, the government recruited 1.25 lakh teachers. PM Shri School Scheme is an innovative experiment in basic education to connect children with technology. Chief Minister Yogi mentioned a similar initiative called Atal Residential School in the state, adding that in alignment with this approach, integrated schools are being established in 57 districts with an allocated budget of Rs 1000 crore.

“Previously, students from the state sought coaching in other states. Following the COVID period, the Abhyudaya coaching program was launched, which is conducted both virtually and physically in every district. Presently, children are preparing for competitive exams such as NEET, IIT, UPSC, etc. IPS, PCS, while numerous other officers are devoting an hour daily to coaching classes. Consequently, the children of the state are securing jobs through various competitive examinations.”

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the significant improvement brought about by the current government, contrasting it with the previous administration’s expertise in facilitating cheating during exams. He noted that students from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, and other states used to enroll in Uttar Pradesh due to the availability of copying materials during exams. Upon assuming office, the government implemented strict measures to ban this practice and undertook substantial efforts to enhance school infrastructure. As a result, prestigious global educational institutions are expressing interest in establishing their branches in the state, he pointed out.

CM Yogi emphasized that through the National Education Policy, India is poised to reclaim global leadership in education. Uttar Pradesh, with its 5 crore students, will play a pivotal role in achieving this and elevating the state and the country to new heights through various educational initiatives. In recent years, the state has introduced new initiatives alongside the theoretical curriculum, including ‘one district one product,’ skill development, and other educational programs.

Minister Gulab Devi, Minister Sandeep Singh, Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary Finance and Secondary Education Deepak Kumar, Principal Secretary Basic Education Dr. MK Shanmuga Sundaram etc. were present during the program.