MUMBAI: Maharashtra plans to convert 4,860 govt schools into CM Shri Schools, which will be developed along the lines of the Centre’s PM Shri School initiative aimed at building exemplar schools.
The emphasis will be on strengthening the infrastructure and improving support for educational initiatives at these schools, which can go on to lead a cluster of schools, and also mentor them in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
In 2022, the Centre had launched the PM Shri School to develop more than 14,500 govt schools across the country over a period of five years.
While state govt will prioritise the overall development of these schools, efforts will also be made to direct CSR (corporate social responsibility) funding towards the initiative. “These schools will be developed to have good physical infrastructure, including sports and digital, a better student-teacher ratio, and resources for overall development,” said a state official. “Efforts will be made to boost enrolment so that the maximum number of students can benefit. Even students staying far from these schools will be encouraged to enrol there, and they will be supported with a monthly transport allowance.” The official added that the schools will be mapped to benefit local communities and will be promoted as a one-stop shop for education up to class X. He further said that these schools will have to put out their requirements on the central govt’s Vidyanjali portal to seek support from the private sector. Alternatively, the department will also direct CSR initiatives to these priority schools, the official added.
Since the state’s school education department will be implementing NE this year, the CM Shri Schools will act as role models for others and will also mentor institutes under their cluster for the implementation. These clusters will benefit students from other schools with lower enrolment, as learning with peer groups helps students in their overall development too, said the state official.
On Monday, the concept of CM Shri Schools was floated as part of the state’s 100-day plan for the school education department in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, school education minister Dada Bhuse, and school education secretary Ranjit Singh Deol. Fadnavis said that govt schools have a lot of potential and the teachers who nurture these students should be treated as assets. He also mentioned that cluster schools will benefit students in schools with poor enrolment.