Bhubaneswar: The Union Ministry of Education today inked an MoU with Odisha government for the implementation of PM SHRI School scheme in the state.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Sambalpur MP and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, his deputy Jayant Chaudhary and the School and Mass Education (S&ME) Department secretary of Odisha in New Delhi.

The Centre had launched PM SHRI School scheme on September 7, 2022 to develop as many as 14,500 schools across the country with all modern infrastructure. These schools are supposed to display all the components of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 and provide high-quality education in equitable, inclusive and joyful environment.

The Union government had requested all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to sign MoUs with the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) at the Ministry of Education for implementation of the PM SHRI School scheme.

As per the agreement, around 800 schools in Odisha will be developed under PM SHRI School scheme. At least two schools in each block and urban area of the state will be renovated with all modern facilities under the scheme.

The PM SHRI Schools will have digital laboratory, digital library and digital learning tools among other modern facilities. The scheme will benefit over 1 lakh students in Odisha.

Notably, the PM SHRI School scheme was partially launched in Odisha last year.

Under the scheme, the Centre had decided to develop at least 37 Kendriya Vidyalayas and 26 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in Odisha in the first phase.