The Centre and the West Bengal government on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement the PM SHRI Schools initiative in the state, ending years of resistance by the previous Trinamool Congress administration to the centrally sponsored scheme linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The agreement was signed between the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Union Ministry of Education and the West Bengal government in the presence of School Education and Literacy Secretary Sanjay Kumar.
Additional Secretary Dheeraj Sahu signed the MoU on behalf of the Centre, while Additional Chief Secretary Binod Kumar represented the state government.
The PM SHRI Schools scheme, short for Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India, was launched on September 7, 2022, with the aim of transforming over 14,500 existing government schools into model institutions showcasing the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.
According to the Union Education Ministry, the selected schools will be developed with upgraded infrastructure, smart classrooms, modern laboratories, digital learning tools, skill-based education and improved teacher training systems. The schools are also expected to function as mentor institutions for neighbouring schools to improve overall learning outcomes and innovation.
Also read: Centre pushes PM SHRI rollout in Bengal, Tamil Nadu
In a post on X, the ministry said the initiative would help create “exemplar institutions” focused on holistic and inclusive education.
The development marks a significant policy shift in West Bengal. The earlier All India Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee had declined to join the scheme, arguing that education falls under the concurrent list and expressing concerns over the Centre allegedly linking funding to acceptance of central education policies.
The issue had led to repeated political confrontations between the Centre and the state over education funding and implementation of NEP-related initiatives.
Following the change in government in West Bengal, the new Bharatiya Janata Party administration led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari decided to implement the scheme.
Officials said the rollout of PM SHRI Schools in West Bengal is expected to accelerate infrastructure development and improve access to quality education across the state.
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