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To strengthen the infrastructure and take new initiatives to provide quality education to the students of the state in Government Schools, Punjab Government has approved the action plan of SAMAGRA Sikhya Abhiyan Authority for the next two academic sessions. The action plan includes strengthening the infrastructure of government schools, boosting commerce and science education, giving priority to environmental initiatives, free uniforms and books, libraries, and sports.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Authority’s executive committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anurag Verma. “Education is the top priority of the State Government. On the instructions of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, revolutionary reforms are being carried out in Government Schools,” said Verma.
The Chief Secretary said that in the next two academic sessions, commerce is being started in 35 schools and science in 10 schools, the list of which will be finalized by the Chief Minister. Similarly, 1096 new classrooms, at a cost of Rs 92.70 crore, and the renovation of 360 classrooms, at Rs 14.85 crore, are proposed in the next two years.
Verma added that a total of 2,623 toilets for girls will be repaired at a cost of Rs 18.35 crore and 215 toilets will be constructed for girls at a cost of Rs 2.72 crore. Also, 876 toilets will be constructed for children with special needs at a cost of Rs 17.52 crore, he added.
Stating that the solar panels will be installed in schools too, he said that an action plan has been made to install 2190 solar panels at the cost of Rs 29.58 crore.
Sharing more information, Verma said that in the next two years, Rs 182.06 crore has been proposed to be spent on giving free uniforms to 30 lakh students and Rs 44.86 crore to give free books to 14 lakh students. Similarly, an action plan of Rs 32.91 crore for libraries and Rs 20.90 crore for sports and physical education, Rs 18.66 crore for Rani Lakshmi Bai self-defence and Rs 1.47 crore for the education of adolescent girls has been made for the next two years, he said.
Similarly, all 19,120 Government Schools will be provided internet facility in a phased manner to boost digital education and strengthen the Eduset system while presiding over the meeting of the Board of Governors of PICTES. In this regard, the MoU has been signed with BSNL. The Chief Secretary said that 6300 Government Schools will be provided with internet in the first phase.
Apart from this, the action plan was also approved for boys’ toilets, rainwater harvesting, Science lab, Art Craft room, Library room, Transport, in-service teacher training and ICT.