Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to ask the officers concerned to sign an MoU with the Centre for the establishment of schools under the PM SHRI scheme.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Dharmendra said that PM SHRI scheme was launched on September 7, 2022 with an aim to establish more than 14,500 schools across the country. These schools will display all the components of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful environment, he said.
Till now, most of the schools and Union Territories (UT) have signed MoU and first phase of selection of schools have been completed. First instalment has also been released to implement the scheme for PM SHRI schools, the Union Minister said, adding that the second cycle of selection of schools is in process.
However, Odisha is yet to sign the Memorandum of Understanding though many letters have been written to the state, he said.
“Therefore, I would request you again to issue necessary directions to the concerned officers to sign MoU for PM SHRI scheme with the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education (MoE),” Dharmendra said in his letter to the CM.
These schools will not only focus on cognitive development, but will also create holistic individuals equipped with key 21st century skills, he said.
