AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government seems to have taken a leaf out of Arvind Kejriwal’s successful Delhi model as it announced new scheme that aims to develop 500 state-run schools as ‘Schools of Excellence’ by the end of March next year. The scheme is part of the state government’s massive budget outlay of Rs 31,955 crore for the education sector.
“Our government has implemented a number of schemes to brighten the future of India taking shape in the classrooms. I announce, ‘Schools of Excellence Scheme’ to ensure quality education in government schools,” Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced on Wednesday while unveiling the state budget for 2020-21.
Talented teachers from taluka level will be identified to impart global standard education in these schools, the minister said.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which won again in the Delhi state elections, had made quality education in government schools one of its major poll planks.
A provision of Rs 250 crore has been made for the scheme which includes providing modern infrastructural facilities, smart classrooms, computer labs, STEM labs and sports facilities, according to the budget document.
“In the pilot phase, about 500 schools will be developed as schools of excellence during 2020-21,” said Vinod Rao, secretary, primary and secondary education.
Separate sub-head has also been provided in the budget for ‘External Assistance Funding for Schools of Excellence’ so that it could be scaled up in the next 5 years.
The broader vision is to convert about 15,000 primary schools (with more than 150 students) and about 5,000 secondary and higher secondary schools into schools of excellence in the next 5 years, Rao said.
The state government’s share of funds will be dovetailed with that received from the Centre, external funding agencies, NABARD and other sources to realize the mission for Schools of Excellence, Rao said.
The mission will also focus on intensive training and capacity building of teachers by strengthening of GCERT and DIETs.
All this will help in improving ‘grade appropriate learning outcomes’ and ‘higher order thinking skills’ across all schools so that Gujarat can participate in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2024, Rao added.
The budget has also made provision to the tune of Rs 650 crore for school infrastructure; Rs 188 crore to Gujarat Institute of Educational Technology for setting up command and control centre, computer labs and education-technology interventions, and Rs 125 crore for smart classrooms across schools during 2020-21.
“Our government has implemented a number of schemes to brighten the future of India taking shape in the classrooms. I announce, ‘Schools of Excellence Scheme’ to ensure quality education in government schools,” Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced on Wednesday while unveiling the state budget for 2020-21.
Talented teachers from taluka level will be identified to impart global standard education in these schools, the minister said.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which won again in the Delhi state elections, had made quality education in government schools one of its major poll planks.
A provision of Rs 250 crore has been made for the scheme which includes providing modern infrastructural facilities, smart classrooms, computer labs, STEM labs and sports facilities, according to the budget document.
“In the pilot phase, about 500 schools will be developed as schools of excellence during 2020-21,” said Vinod Rao, secretary, primary and secondary education.
Separate sub-head has also been provided in the budget for ‘External Assistance Funding for Schools of Excellence’ so that it could be scaled up in the next 5 years.
The broader vision is to convert about 15,000 primary schools (with more than 150 students) and about 5,000 secondary and higher secondary schools into schools of excellence in the next 5 years, Rao said.
The state government’s share of funds will be dovetailed with that received from the Centre, external funding agencies, NABARD and other sources to realize the mission for Schools of Excellence, Rao said.
The mission will also focus on intensive training and capacity building of teachers by strengthening of GCERT and DIETs.
All this will help in improving ‘grade appropriate learning outcomes’ and ‘higher order thinking skills’ across all schools so that Gujarat can participate in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2024, Rao added.
The budget has also made provision to the tune of Rs 650 crore for school infrastructure; Rs 188 crore to Gujarat Institute of Educational Technology for setting up command and control centre, computer labs and education-technology interventions, and Rs 125 crore for smart classrooms across schools during 2020-21.
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