Bhubaneswar: With an objective to ensure quality education to children, the Centre has decided to open model schools in every block of the country.
This was stated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a function in Odisha capital on Saturday. He was speaking after performing ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ (foundation stone laying ceremony) of a Kendriya Vidyalaya (Central School) in IIT-Bhubaneswar campus.
The new school will come up in an area of 10 acre with an estimated budget of Rs 25 crore to be provided by IIT-Bhubaneswar. The students will be enrolled for Classes I to V for 2022-23 academic session. The classes of the students will continue to run from the IIT buildings till the school’s own building comes up.
The Minister said as per the government plan, total 15,000 model schools will be opened in the country with at least one school in each block. In this process, Odisha will get over 500 such schools.
He further said any state government school, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ekalavya Vidyalaya or Navodaya Vidyalaya can be converted into model school. The students of these schools will be extended special education by the government.
Pradhan also announced that about five new Central Schools will be opened on project mode in Odisha with support from Coal India.
He said the Central government has launched a new scheme called PM Shri School Yojana. The government intends to ensure quality education under the scheme through Kendriya Vidyalayas, Ekalavya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas.
Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Jatni MLA Suresh Routray and staff of the Central School were present.