Swami Atmanand Excellence School Scheme

• 17 Aug 2022

Why In News?

• On August 15, 2022, on Independence Day, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced the implementation of 'Swami Atmanand Excellence School scheme' in 422 schools of the state before the upcoming academic session to provide better and quality education to the students of the state. Out of which 252 schools will be in Bastar and Surguja divisions.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that 'Swami Atmanand Excellence School Scheme' has brought a new revolution in the field of school education. Last year, the state government had started this scheme from 51 schools, which has now increased to 279 schools. Out of these, 32 schools are Hindi medium and 247 schools are being taught in English medium along with Hindi.
• This year, 2 lakh 52 thousand 600 children have taken admission in these schools, out of which 1 lakh 3 thousand children are English medium and 1 lakh 49 thousand 600 children are Hindi medium.
• In view of the success of this scheme, it has been decided that more and more schools will be brought under this scheme. The scheme will be implemented in 422 schools before the upcoming academic session, out of which 252 schools will be in Bastar and Surguja divisions and these will have 100 percent government high and higher secondary schools of Dantewada district.
• The Chief Minister said that the process of setting up an international level boarding school in Nava Raipur has also been started.
• In order to provide elementary education to children in their mother tongue, the state government has published textbooks in 16 local languages and in the languages of 4 neighboring states besides Hindi.
• Under the 'Free Textbook Scheme', about 52 lakh textbooks are being provided to the children of all government-non-government schools from class I to class X and madrasas up to class VIII.
• A target has been set to provide free bicycles to 1 lakh 55 thousand girl students studying in class IX this year.
• To make school education employable, it has been coordinated with ITI, so that certificates of school education and ITI training can be obtained simultaneously. Under this scheme, 114 higher secondary schools have been added.
• To improve the quality of higher education, 1,459 assistant professors, sports officers and librarians have been appointed. The honorarium of guest lecturers has been increased. In order to open girls colleges in all the districts, a new girls college has been started in Mungeli district.