What is PM SHRI, the ‘showcase’ schools’ scheme that Centre is pushing in states?

What is PM SHRI, the ‘showcase’ schools’ scheme that Centre is pushing in states?

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Education

Context:

• The Centre has stopped funding for the umbrella program for school education in three opposition-ruled states that have refused to implement its PM SHRI scheme.
• The Samagra Shiksha Scheme, for which funding has been stopped in West Bengal, Punjab, and Delhi, supports implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

What is Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) Scheme?

• PM SHRI is a Centrally Sponsored scheme announced in 2022.
• It aims to develop more than 14500 schools across the country by strengthening selected existing schools being managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
• It will create and nurture holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st century skills.
• The duration of the scheme is from 2022-23 to 2026-27, after which it shall be the responsibility of the States/UTs to continue to maintain the benchmarks achieved by these schools.
• PM SHRI schools will act as exemplar schools showcasing all components of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) and offering mentorship to other schools in their vicinity.
• The PM SHRI Schools will be developed as Green Schools, incorporating environment-friendly aspects.
• The focus will be on the learning outcomes of every child in every grade.
• Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real-life situations and will be competency-based.
• Linkage with Sector Skill Councils and local industry for enhancing employability and providing better employment opportunities will be explored.
• A School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) is being developed, specifying the key performance indicators to measure outcomes. Quality evaluation of these schools at regular intervals will be undertaken to ensure the desired standards.
• These schools will provide leadership to other schools in their respective regions by providing mentorship.

What is the Samagra Shiksha Scheme?

• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is an integrated scheme for school education extending support to States from pre-school to class XII.
• The scheme not only provides support for the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 but has also been aligned with the recommendations of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 
• It aims to deliver inclusive, equitable, and affordable school education.
• It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
• It is being implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme.
• To enhance the direct outreach of the scheme, all child-centric interventions will be provided directly to the students through DBT mode on an IT-based platform over a period of time.
• The scheme covers 1.16 million schools, over 156 million students and 5.7 million Teachers of Govt. and Aided schools (from pre-primary to senior secondary level) by involving all stakeholders of the school ecosystem i.e. teachers, teacher educators, students, parents, community, school management committees, SCERTs, DIETs, BITEs, Block resource Persons, Cluster resource persons, volunteers for providing quality, inclusive and equitable education.
• Samagra Shiksha supports a new pedagogical and curricular structure of school education (5+3+3+4):3 years in Anganwadi/pre-school and 12 years in school.

• The scheme has been extended for a period of five years i.e., from 2021-22 to 2025-26.