Lucknow, Jan 4 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that in order to take forward the vision of New India, 928 schools of the state will be modernised with an amount of Rs 404 crore in the first phase of Prime Minister School for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme.

During the launch of the modernisation work of government schools under the PM-SHRI scheme and transfer of funds of Rs 347 crore for saturation of infrastructure facilities in secondary schools under Project Alankar' organised at Lok Bhawan, the CM said 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.

He said, "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."

Criticizing the previous governments for neglecting educational facilities in the state, Yogi said, "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."

He said, "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."

During the event, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and CM Yogi distributed appointment letters to newly selected Group B officers. Before this, the CM visited an exhibition organised by the children at Lok Bhawan.

Tablets were given to several principals to integrate schools with technology and certificates were presented to various teachers for conducting smart classes.

The CM emphasised 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," he said.

He 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," he said.

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 1,000 crore.

He said, "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, including IPS and 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."

The CM highlighted the significant improvement brought about by the current government, contrasting it with the previous administration's expertise in facilitating cheating during exams. He said that students from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and other states used to enrol in UP due to the availability of copying materials during exams.

He said, "After 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."

Yogi emphasised that through the National Education Policy, India is poised to reclaim global leadership in education. "With its 5 crore students UP 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 programmes," he said.

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