PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat announced that under the Cluster School Scheme operated by the Education department, one cluster school will be established in each development block in the first phase.
Rawat said that under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, these cluster schools have been selected by the department to be built across the State. In the first phase, one cluster school will be established in all 95 development blocks at the secondary level. These schools will cater to students from classes VII to XII and will provide a range of facilities, including smart classrooms, virtual classrooms, tinkering labs, computer labs, subject-specific laboratories, art and craft rooms, libraries, playgrounds and restrooms.
Additionally, the scheme will ensure 100 per cent deployment of teachers for all subjects, as well as sports and yoga instructors, librarians, support staff and dining staff in these schools, he said.
He further added that to guarantee basic facilities and ensure quality construction in the selected cluster schools, the department has appointed nodal officers for on-site inspections. These officers include senior officials from the Directorate level, such as the Director General of Education, Chief Education Officers (CEO) from all districts, principals of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and Block Education Officers (BEO). Rawat said that these nodal officers will soon conduct inspections of the designated schools and will provide detailed reports to the government through the Directorate General of Education. Following this, the construction process for the selected cluster schools will begin.
Rawat emphasised that the government’s goal is to develop these cluster schools as education hubs. Additionally, nearby schools with low student enrollment will be incorporated into these cluster schools. Under the scheme, cluster schools will gradually be converted into residential facilities to provide accommodation for students from remote areas, he said.
