PUNE: The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to convert 488 schools into model schools in Maharashtra. The schools will be provided with infrastructural facilities as well as modules for academic development. A budget of Rs 494 crore has been set aside.
The model school concept developed by the government includes separate toilets, drinking water system, well-maintained classrooms, attractive building, playground, sports equipment, ICT lab, science lab, library.
There will be roads for transportation from the surrounding villages and schools. If the number of students increases in the future, there will be ample scope for expansion of the building and physical facilities. These schools are chosen under the Samagra Shiksha Abhigyan run by the Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad.
State project coordinator, Rajendra Pawar said, “Educational quality will provide a great learning environment for students to learn. Teachers will teach students by going beyond textbooks. Students should be able to read and write properly. It is necessary to focus on reading while in the classroom, it is necessary to practice reading. It will be compulsory for students to be familiar with the basic concepts of language and mathematics at the primary level, including reading, writing and mathematical operations.”
The school library will have supplementary reading books and reference books, encyclopedias. Along with self-study, educational programmes like group study will be implemented in a constructive manner. From Pune district, 17 schools have been chosen for the upgrade.
Pawar added, “Twenty-first century skills in model school such as creative thinking, critical thinking, scientific temperament, embracing constitutional values, collaboration, communication and other similar skills will be consciously developed.”
