Smart Classroom Initiative Spurs Enrolment and Enhances Learning Experience

Sub : Schemes

Sec: Msc

Why in News

A recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore, highlights the significant impact of smart classrooms under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM). The initiative has led to a 22% increase in student enrolment, improved learning experiences, and enhanced teacher comfort in government schools across India.

Smart Classroom Initiative

Increase in Enrolment: Data from 19 cities between 2015-16 and 2023-24 shows a 22% rise in overall student enrolment in schools equipped with smart classrooms.
Geographic Distribution: A total of 71 cities have developed 9,433 smart classrooms in 2,398 government schools under the SCM.
Top Performing States: Karnataka leads with 80 smart classroom projects.
States with Minimal Projects: West Bengal is at the bottom, with just two projects implemented.
Development of Digital Libraries: 41 cities have developed digital libraries, providing a total of 7,809 seats for students.
Impact on Education: Cities like Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Tumakuru (Karnataka) have witnessed significant benefits from these libraries.

About Smart Cities Mission (SCM):

Smart Cities Mission was launched by the Hon’ Prime Minister on 25 June, 2015.
The main objective of the Mission is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
It is under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The Mission aims to drive economic growth and improve quality of life through comprehensive work on social, economic, physical and institutional pillars of the city.
The focus is on sustainable and inclusive development by creation of replicable models which act as lighthouses to other aspiring cities. 100 cities have been selected to be developed as Smart Cities through a two-stage competition.
The Mission is operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Central Government will give financial support to the extent of Rs. 48,000 crores over 5 years i.e. on an average Rs.100 crore per city per year.
- An equal amount on a matching basis is to be provided by the State/ULB.
- Additional resources are to be raised through convergence, from ULBs’ own funds, grants under Finance Commission, innovative finance mechanisms such as Municipal Bonds, other government programs and borrowings.
Emphasis has been given on the participation of private sector through Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
There is no standard definition or template of a smart city.

SAAR Platform:

SAAR (Smart Cities and Academia towards Action and Research)
Launched in 2022 to facilitate collaboration between academia and the government.
Focuses on documenting and researching urban initiatives for better policy formulation.

Sameeksha Series

The SAAR initiative has introduced 50 impact assessment studies under the “Sameeksha Series.”
These studies are conducted by 29 premier institutions, including:
- Six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
- Eight Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- Three Schools of Planning and Architecture.
- Twelve specialized research institutes.