Syllabus:

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. 

Context:

Recently, Kerala signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre to join the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.

More on the News 

• According to the MoU, PM SHRI schools can follow State curriculum frameworks developed in accordance with new curricular and pedagogical structure of the NEP, 2020. 
• The move was driven by financial pressure after the Centre withheld ₹456 crore under Samagra Shiksha for 2025–26, along with arrears from previous years, totalling ₹1,158 crore. 
• With Kerala joining the scheme, only Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are left to ink the agreement.

Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Scheme

PM SHRI School launched in 2022, is a centrally sponsored scheme with Department of School Education & Literacy under Ministry of Education as sponsoring department. Aim: To qualitatively strengthen the existing schools and showcase the implementation of National Education Policy, 2020 and make them exemplar schools over a period of time.Objective: To develop over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools that offer inclusive, safe, and engaging learning environments with quality infrastructure, diverse learning opportunities, and adequate resources for all students.

Eligibility: Schools managed by Central government/State/UT Government/local bodies and  all Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas which are non-project and running from permanent buildings.

Duration of the scheme: The duration of the scheme is from 2022-23 to 2026-27, after which it shall be the responsibility of the states/UTs to continue to maintain the benchmarks achieved by these schools.

Monitoring Framework: It has a School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) that indicate level of proficiency to be achieved by each school. Also the scheme has a comprehensive robust ICT based tracking, monitoring and evaluation mechanism to monitor the quality.

Allocation All over India: Maximum two schools (one Elementary & one Secondary/Senior Secondary) are to be selected per block/ULB with upper limit of 14500 across India.

Pillars of the PM SHRI Scheme: There are 6 pillars of PM SHRI schools derived from 9 chapters of NEP 2020 viz-

• Pillar 1- Access Infrastructure - Adequacy, Functionality, Aesthetics and Safety
• Pillar 2- Human Resources and School Leadership
• Pillar 3- Management, Monitoring and Governance
• Pillar 4- Beneficiary Satisfaction
• Pillar 5- Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
• Pillar 6- Inclusive Practices and Gender Equity

Sources:
The Hindu
Indian Express