Kolkata, May 16 -- The West Bengal government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union Education Ministry for implementation of the PM SHRI school scheme in the state.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi on May 15 between the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Union Education Ministry and the West Bengal government in the presence of department secretary Sanjay Kumar.

The state was represented by additional chief secretary Binod Kumar, while additional secretary Dheeraj Sahu and other senior officials were also present.

Launched in 2022, the PM SHRI scheme aims to develop more than 14,500 model schools aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 through improved infrastructure, smart classrooms, competency-based learning and upgraded teaching standards.

The Centre has said the schools will function as exemplar institutions supporting neighbouring schools in improving learning outcomes and innovation.

According to official PM SHRI dashboard data, 13,091 schools across the country have so far been covered under the scheme.

In West Bengal, only 60 centrally run schools - 46 Kendriya Vidyalayas and 14 Navodaya Vidyalayas - had been included till now, while no state-run schools were covered.

West Bengal had not joined the scheme during the previous Trinamool Congress government, which objected to the use of the "PM" in the scheme's name and differences over implementation of the National Education Policy.

The previous state government had repeatedly alleged that the Centre withheld pending Samagra Shiksha Mission (PBSSM) funds because Bengal had not signed the MoU for PM SHRI implementation.

School Education Department officials said signing the agreement under the BJP-led government could help ease the deadlock over central assistance for school education projects in the state.

Officials said around 16 months remain under the current five-year PM SHRI implementation cycle, though the Centre may consider extending the timeline for Bengal because of the delay in joining the scheme.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.