Gujarat's 'Mission Schools of Excellence' becomes India's largest education mission
Gandhinagar (Gujarat)[India], June 24 (ANI): Gujarat's 'Mission Schools of Excellence' has become India's largest school education initiative, with the state completing the construction of 13,353 classrooms, 21,000 computer labs, 1.09 lakh smart classrooms, and 5,000 STEM labs under the project.
According to a Gujarat CMO, the programme, launched in 2022 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, aims to upgrade around 40,000 government and grant-in-aid schools in the state. The Government of Gujarat has allocated around Rs 12,000 crore for the mission, and the World Bank has committed $750 million for its implementation.
Over the past 22 years, this initiative has led to foundational improvements in the education sector and a notable increase in school enrollment rates.
Enhancing schools with robust infrastructure, smart classrooms, STEM labs, and co-curricular facilities within the campus plays a vital role in improving academic quality. Gujarat, a pioneer in adopting new approaches in education, launched the country's largest inclusive school campaign - 'Mission Schools of Excellence'.
The objective of 'Mission Schools of Excellence' is to upgrade around 40,000 government and grant-in-aid schools by strengthening infrastructure, digital learning tools, and foundational education. This is the first such project in the country aimed at enhancing the quality of school education nationwide.
As per the saetemnt, the target is to build 50,000 new classrooms and 1,50,000 new smart classrooms
Under the Mission Schools of Excellence, the work of strengthening the physical and digital infrastructure of schools across Gujarat has gained momentum. As part of this initiative, 50,000 new classrooms will be constructed, out of which work on 13,353 classrooms has been completed, while 31,469 classrooms are under construction. In addition to new classrooms, modernisation of 27,872 classrooms has been completed, and work on modernising 63,860 classrooms is ongoing.
To further the digital approach in the education sector, 21,000 new computer labs have been established. The process of equipping 18,000 government and grant-in-aid schools with computer labs is currently in progress. Additionally, the mission aims to build 1,50,000 new smart classrooms, of which work on 1,09,000 smart classrooms has already been completed, and equipping 26,000 smart classrooms in government and grant-in-aid schools is underway.
The construction of 5,000 new STEM labs has been completed to promote education in science and technology subjects.
Under 'Mission Schools of Excellence,' school transformation includes comprehensive development of selected primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools through planned activities such as civil infrastructure, digital infrastructure, smart classrooms, computer labs, STEM labs, online assessments, remedial classes, and holistic education. This will directly and indirectly benefit nearly one crore students and will strengthen the foundation of primary education in Gujarat. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
39 minutes ago
- The Print
Assam CM holds talks with UAE ambassador, discuss trade and investment opportunities in state
During the visit, Ambassador Alshaali said, 'Assam is a key gateway to Northeast India and offers immense potential for partnership with the UAE across a diverse range of sectors. It was a pleasure to exchange views with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on how we can work together to unlock this potential. The UAE is keen to expand its partnership with this critically important state and to support its ongoing development. Ambassador Alshaali is on an official visit to Assam to explore opportunities for bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation. Dispur: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Abdulnasser Alshaali, the UAE Ambassador to India, held a high-level meeting to discuss strengthening ties between the UAE and Assam in several key sectors, including agriculture and food processing, education, innovation, logistics and connectivity, and sustainable tourism. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, 'Had the pleasure to host H.E. Abdulnasser Alshaali, the Ambassador of UAE to India at Lok Sewa Bhawan. UAE is keen to expand trade, boost connectivity and explore investment opportunities in Assam. We had a good discussion on how the North East could accelerate the close collaboration between our nations.' Both discussed India's development of the Jogighopa Multimodal Logistics Park, which integrates road, rail, and inland waterway transport. Both sides emphasised Assam's potential in enhancing regional and cross-border trade connectivity between the UAE, India, and the Southeast Asian region. It was further noted that the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) offers a robust platform for collaboration across priority sectors for Assam, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, textiles, wellness, and handloom and handicrafts. Since the signing of the CEPA on 18 February 2022, bilateral trade between the UAE and India has nearly doubled, from USD 43.3 billion in FY 2020-21 to USD 83.7 billion in FY 2023-24, driven by a significant expansion in non-oil trade, which reached USD 57.8 billion in FY 2023-24. These gains reflect the CEPA's success in diversifying the bilateral trade basket and advancing toward the bilateral non-oil trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030. This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: India-China agree to 'stabilise and rebuild ties', to start talking economy and trade next
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
8 held, minor detained for torturing 2 dalit men in Ganjam
1 2 Berhampur: Eight men were arrested on Tuesday and a minor detained for their alleged involvement in torturing two dalit men in Ganjam district on Sunday, suspecting them to be cattle smugglers. The men were assaulted, allegedly tonsured and made to crawl on their knees for a kilometre. The accused also forced them to eat grass and drink water from the drain, the two men claimed in their FIR at Dharakote police station. Those arrested were identified as Siba Shankar Mohapatra (25), Satya Sahu (20), Bainath Bisoyi (23), Om Gouda (23), Ganapati Polai (36), Santosh Dakua (30), Shankar Das (25) and Narayan Dakua (30). "Some others were also involved in the case and search is on to nab them," said Santosh Kumar Jena, SDPO, Aska. The incident resulted in widespread protests with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking immediate action against the culprits. Describing the incident as inhuman, Rahul, the opposition leader in Lok Sabha, said it is a mirror for those who claim caste is no longer an issue. "Each incident that tarnishes the dignity of the Dalits is an attack on Baba Saheb's constitution and a conspiracy against equality, justice, and humanity," Rahul posted on X. You Can Also Check: Bhubaneswar AQI | Weather in Bhubaneswar | Bank Holidays in Bhubaneswar | Public Holidays in Bhubaneswar Police said Babula Nayak (45) of Singipur village was travelling in an auto with two cows and a calf for his daughter's marriage. Close to the village, he was stopped by a group of men, who accused Babula of being a cow smuggler. They demanded Rs 30,000 from him. When he refused to pay, the accused started assaulting him. Hearing his cries, Bulu Nayak (38), a relative of Babula, rushed to help. He, too, was assaulted before the men subjected the two to the torture. Police registered a case after Babula lodged an FIR. The accused were arrested under different sections of BNS and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act 1989, police said. According to Ganjam SP Suvendu Kumar Patra, "The main aim of the accused were to extort money in the name of cow smuggling." Amid the outrage, state Congress formed a five-member fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of legislative party leader Ram Chandra Kadam. The committee will visit the village, speak to the victims, and submit a report to the party. On Tuesday, Dalit Mahasabha in the district staged a demonstration near the revenue divisional commissioner's office, demanding strong action against the accused. The Mahasabha submitted a memorandum to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi through the commission's office. "The govt should issue guidelines about the transportation of cattle. Farmers are afraid while transporting cattle for their own use due to the fear of miscreants," said Bhala Chandra Sarangi, a dalit leader who participated in the demonstration. BJD has also condemned the incident. "This incident has defamed Odisha and every Odia. The law and order machinery has collapsed. There is no semblance of administrative efficiency," BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, demanding strong action against the perpetrators. Responding to the allegations, senior BJP leader Ram Chandra Panda said the govt has been very alert to such incidents. "Police took prompt action against the perpetrators by rounding up the main culprits," Panda said, advising opposition parties not to politicise the issue and let police investigate the matter.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
LG Approves ACB Probe Against Bharadwaj, Jain
New Delhi: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena on Tuesday gave his approval to the anti-corruption branch of Delhi govt to conduct an inquiry against former health ministers in AAP govt — Satyendar Jain and Saurabh Bharadwaj — in a case related to the construction and upgrade of hospitals. The inquiry was ordered on a complaint by BJP's Vijender Gupta in Aug 2024, alleging "inexplicable delays and astronomical cost overruns indicating a large scale of fund siphoning" in 24 hospital projects, including 11 greenfield and 13 brownfield, approved for a total cost of Rs 5,590 crore. The complainant alleged that seven ICU hospitals with a total bed capacity of 6,800 were sanctioned at a cost of Rs 1,125 crore for construction using pre-engineered structures within six months from Sept 2021, but only 50% of the work was completed in three years and Rs 800 crore was spent. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi It was further alleged that a new block in Lok Nayak Hospital was sanctioned for Rs 465 crore, but the cost increased to Rs 1,125 crore in just four years. Of 94 polyclinics sanctioned by the previous govt at a cost of Rs 168 crore, only 52 were built at an escalated cost of Rs 220 crore, the complaint added. The BJP functionary also alleged deliberate stalling of the Health Information Management System and claimed that the ministers rejected "cost-effective solutions like NIC's e-hospital system." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo The LG office, in a statement, said the prima facie perusal of the complaint by the ACB found "consistent inflating" of project costs, deliberate delays by the department, rejection of cost-effective solutions, misallocation of funds and creation of idle assets. It termed these as "tactics and patterns of misconduct and corrupt activities," which resulted in a huge loss to the govt exchequer. The ACB moved to the directorate of vigilance for prior approval under section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to probe against Bharadwaj and Jain, which was forwarded to the health and family welfare department and Public Works Department for comments. While the health and family welfare department said it had no objection to the inquiry, PWD also recommended the investigation of ICU hospitals, polyclinics and other projects; identification of instances of corruption, irregularities, and violation of laws and rules; and fixing of responsibility for wrongdoing, if any. Forwarding the ACB's proposal along with the comments of the two departments to LG for the grant of sanction for investigation, the directorate of vigilance observed that the construction of hospitals was not completed in the stipulated time due to upgradation in specifications and facilities beyond the original provision after the award of work. It added that due diligence in estimate preparation and planning was not done accurately, resulting in an increase in cost beyond the original sanctioned amount, and escalation of arbitration costs resulted in an unnecessary burden on the govt exchequer. "The administrative department has failed to acknowledge some aspects and there can be some hidden facts and evidence in the matter that attracts an inquiry... to unearth the lapses… an in-depth inquiry is required," the directorate of vigilance observed on the file.
