TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE
THE CONTEXT: The PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme is a significant initiative by the Indian government aimed at enhancing the quality of education across the country.
EXPLANATION:
- This scheme seeks to develop select schools into exemplary institutions that showcase the National Education Policy (NEP) principles of 2020.
- However, some states have opposed its implementation, leading to funding issues and political disagreements.
PM SHRI
- Approved in 2022, the PM SHRI scheme aims to transform 14,500 existing elementary, secondary, and senior secondary schools into model schools.
- These schools are intended to serve as benchmarks for other institutions, promoting best educational practices as envisioned by the NEP, 2020.
- The selected schools include those run by the central government, state governments, and local bodies, ensuring a wide-reaching impact.
- The total project cost for PM SHRI is projected at Rs 27,360 crore over five years, with the central government contributing Rs 18,128 crore.
- States and Union Territories (UTs) are required to sustain the improvements achieved by these schools beyond this period.
- As of the 2023-24 financial year, Rs 3,395.16 crore has been allocated for 6,207 PM SHRI schools, with the central share being Rs 2,520.46 crore and the states contributing Rs 874.70 crore.
Criteria for School Selection
- Challenge Mode
- PM SHRI schools are selected through a challenge mode, where schools meeting specific benchmarks can apply online. Criteria include having a well-maintained pucca building, barrier-free access, and separate toilets for boys and girls. Schools are assessed on infrastructure, teaching staff, and learning outcomes. Urban schools must score at least 70%, while rural schools need a minimum of 60% to qualify.
- State Participation
- States are expected to recommend schools that meet these benchmarks.
- The final selection is made by an expert committee led by the School Education and Literacy Secretary.
- Each block or urban local body can have up to two PM SHRI schools—one elementary and one secondary/senior secondary.
- States, UTs, or school organizations like Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, committing to implement the NEP comprehensively and prefixing the selected schools’ names with PM SHRI.
Implementation Challenges and Political Resistance
- A significant point of contention has been the conditionality of Samagra Shiksha funds in implementing the PM SHRI scheme.
- Samagra Shiksha, an overarching program for school education from pre-school to Class 12, supports implementing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
- However, the Centre has withheld funds for Samagra Shiksha in states like West Bengal, Punjab, and Delhi that have refused to implement PM SHRI.
- For these states, funds amounting to Rs 330 crore, Rs 515 crore, and Rs 1,000 crore for various quarters of 2023-24 and 2024-25 have yet to be released.
State-Specific Reactions
- Delhi and Punjab:
- Both states have schemes for exemplary schools: “Schools of Specialised Excellence” in Delhi and “Schools of Eminence” in Punjab.
- These schemes have led to their refusal to participate in PM SHRI.
- West Bengal:
- The state objects to the requirement of prefixing PM SHRI to school names, arguing against the political branding given their significant financial contribution (40% of the cost).
- Other States
- Initially, states like Kerala, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha resisted signing the PM SHRI MoU but eventually agreed in March 2023.
- These states now participate in the scheme, aligning with the central government’s requirements.
Broader Implications
- Educational Impact
- The PM SHRI scheme is designed to elevate the standard of education by creating model schools that embody the NEP’s goals.
- These schools are expected to pioneer innovative pedagogies such as activity-based, sports-based, art-based, and toy-based learning.
- They must also ensure compliance with pupil-teacher ratio norms and aim for zero dropout rates within two years of implementation.
- Political and Administrative Dynamics
- The scheme’s implementation highlights the political and administrative dynamics between the central and state governments.
- The conditional release of funds underscores the central government’s leverage in enforcing compliance with national policies, potentially leading to political friction, especially in opposition-ruled states.
- Future of School Education
- The success and challenges of the PM SHRI scheme will likely influence future educational policies and funding mechanisms.
- By integrating the scheme with the existing Samagra Shiksha administrative structure, the government aims to streamline efforts to improve school effectiveness and ensure equitable learning outcomes across the country.
