PM SHRI: Between funds and ideology - The Hindu

Kerala made headlines recently when it became a signatory to the Union government's flagship PM SHRI (Prime Minister's Schools for Rising India) scheme after three years of holding out, only to press the pause button after the Communist Party of India (CPI) that is a coalition partner in the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the State refused to go along with the decision alleging a lack of consensus.The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on National Teachers' Day in 2022.On September 7, 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the Centrally sponsored scheme, which seeks to develop over 14,500 existing schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), across the country as model institutions that showcase the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.The PM SHRI schools are envisioned to meet the "demands of the 21st century," notes the scheme's 'Framework on school transformation'. With upgraded infrastructure and innovative pedagogy and technology, the schools are meant to create "well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st century skills". According to the Union Ministry of Education, the objective of PM SHRI is to ready schools in which "every student feels welcomed and cared for, where a safe and stimulating learning environment exists, where a wide range of learning experiences are offered, and where good physical infrastructure and resources conducive to learning are available to all students."The scheme is designed to benefit more than 18 lakh students directly.