In news : Recently, the Union Finance Minister during her budget speech proposed to convert 15000 schools into exemplar schools
Key proposals
Following proposals have been made by the Union Finance Minister during her Budget speech:
- Higher education cluster in nine cities each for coordination among institutions and aiding collective growth without infringing their individual autonomy
- Qualitative strengthening of 15,000 schools to include all components of the NEP.
- These exemplar schools in their regions will mentor other institutions to achieve ideals of the policy and this has been welcomed by several industry experts.
- The National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) is to be developed as proposed in the NEP
- The budget also made an announcement about the revamping of the post-matric scholarship scheme
- The Central government will also introduce a legislation to set up a Higher Education Commission of India, as envisioned in the new education policy, to create an umbrella body that will have “four separate vehicles” for standard-setting, accreditation, regulation and funding
How do Exemplar Schools will work?
Under this initiative one primary and one elementary school in each block and one secondary and one senior secondary school in each district will be developed as schools of excellence that are strengthened, empowered and capacitated to provide – a safe and stimulating learning environment where a wide range of learning experiences are offered, and where good physical infrastructure and appropriate resources conducive to learning are available to all students.
Few Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalays will also be developed as exemplars for showcasing implementation of NEP 2020 and emerging as schools of excellence. These schools shall also emerge as leaders in school education in their region and help hand-hold and mentor other schools to achieve the ideals of NEP 2020.
Beneficiaries and Benefits of Exemplar Schools
- These schools will focus on cognitive development, building character and creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with 21st century skills.
- These schools will help showcase the implementation of the NEP and emerge as exemplars and schools of excellence in their respective regions.
- Pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, real life situations based, inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centered, discussion-based, flexible, and enjoyable.
- Focus on learning outcomes of every child in every grade – Assessment of Quantitative, Verbal & Logical Reasoning Skills.
- Introduction of Child tracking, Holistic progress Card etc.
- Convergence with existing schemes and line Ministries.
