Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised on Thursday that amidst the global challenges posed by Covid, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only safeguarded the country’s 140 crore population 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 informed.

Speaking during the inauguration, Adityanath said the modernisation work of PM Shri Schools, with around Rs 404 crore and transfer of funds of Rs 347 crore for saturation of infrastructure facilities in secondary schools under ‘Project Alankar’ have been organised.

Criticising 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 have initiated the upgrading of basic schools through Operation Kayakalp. Presently, 96 per cent 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 the CM distributed appointment letters to newly selected Group B officers. Before this, Adityanath visited an exhibition organised by children at the 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.

The Chief Minister emphasised the significance of the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’, an initiative 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 further said to address the shortage of teachers in schools, the government has recruited 1.25 lakh teachers.

PM SHRI School Scheme is an innovative experiment in basic education to connect children with technology. Chief Minister Adityanath mentioned a similar initiative ‘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 programme was launched, which is conducted both virtually and physically in every district. Presently, children are preparing for competitive exams such as NEET, IIT and UPSC among others,” he said.

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 emphasised 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.