Punjab mulls smart school policy for quality education

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, August 19

As an outcome of the initiatives taken by highly motivated teachers to uplift their schools, the Punjab Government is soon going to implement a smart school policy, which will revamp almost all government schools of the state.

The aim of the policy is to focus on quality education, good environment and overall development of students. Under the policy, the requirements of funds for developing smart schools will be met by the state and the community. The 40 per cent funds for schools will be provided by the government and the rest by the locals.

The Punjab Government has decided to equip all schools in the state with solar energy panels, ICT infrastructure — computers, tablets, LEDs, digital interactive boards, projectors and Wi-Fi internet connectivity —colour coding and Building as Learning Aid (BALA) work. 

Besides, the schools will get other facilities, including biometric system, well-maintained classrooms, toilets, display of board of honours for staff and students, sound system and school band, sign boards outside the schools, and dining hall or shed for the mid-day meal scheme.

According to officials of the Education Department, as there are over 19,000 government schools in the state which caters to around 25 lakh students, it will take a lot of time if the government converts all these schools into smart schools singlehandedly. Therefore, the policy intends that corporate houses, industrial houses, NGOs, NRIs, alumni retired officers or teachers should come forward to provide support to government schools for this cause.  

Divulging details of government schools in the state, DEO (Secondary) Harwinder Pal Singh said there were over 400 government schools in the district and 150 schools had already been converted into smart schools by teachers and NRIs. 

Appreciating the government decision to implement the policy, he said it would be a win-win situation and this would ensure complete development of schools.

Sharing the same views, DEO (Primary) Satinderbir Singh and District Mentor, Smart Schools, Nawanshahr, Rajnish Kumar said around 125 primary and 35 upper-primary schools in the district had been converted into smart school, while 60 schools would be made smart schools in the coming days. They said if the policy was implemented, it would definitely ensure good infrastructure and a learning environment in the schools.

Govt to provide 40% funds 

• The aim of the policy is to focus on quality education, good environment and overall development of students. Under the policy, the requirements of funds for developing smart schools will be met by the state and the community. The 40 per cent funds for the schools will be provided by the government and the rest by the locals.

• The Punjab Government has decided to equip all schools in the state with solar energy panels, ICT infrastructure — computers, tablets, LEDs, digital interactive boards, projectors and Wi-Fi internet connectivity —colour coding and Building as Learning Aid (BALA) work.

Pre-requisites for making smart school

Any government school can opt for converting itself into a smart school if it has at least 40 students in the primary wing, 60 in middle wing, 130 in high wing and 250 students in senior secondary wing. Schools having the maximum number of students in the district will be given preference.