The Punjab Government has so far given facelift to 7842 government schools by converting them Into smart schools through complete renovation of the school infrastructure thereby enhancing the enrollment in government schools by more than 14 per cent this year on one hand and imparting quality education to students on the other.
According to a spokesperson of the school education department, under the leadership of Punjab Education Minister Mr. Vijay Inder Singla, a smart school policy was formulated in the year 2019 to transform the government schools in the state of art smart schools. These smart schools are completely different from the other government schools. These schools are now temples of technology based teaching and training which ensure the holistic development of the children. In these schools students are being provided the facilities like smart classrooms, digital reading materials, solar energy, sports facilities, smart uniforms, educational parks including attractive environment, color coding, landscaping, etc thereby making them equipped to compete with their peers in the convent schools.
According to the spokesperson, after the formulation of the smart school policy, the infrastructure of the schools have been improved under the direct supervision of Education Secretary Mr. Krishan Kumar. According to the spokesperson, main aim of smart schools policy is to ensure community participation, to strengthen the school education system through the participation of all stakeholders including teachers and parents, to strengthen the school infrastructure and provide digital education to students. To equip the schools with digital tools for education, to provide technology to improve the level of learning of students, to create a conducive environment for the holistic development of students, etc is also the main pillar of the policy.
According to the spokesperson, under the smart school policy, smart classrooms, CCTV cameras, green board / white board, furniture for all students have been provided in addition to clean drinking water, separate toilets for girls and boys, staff rooms, rooms for principals / headmasters, well equipped science labs, vocational laboratories, ICT laboratories etc. According to the spokesperson, provision of sports facilities (at least 2 games in each school), construction of well-managed playgrounds, swings / toys in pre-primary and primary wing, educational parks, attractive and colorful furniture, sound system, school bands has been made in schools. making Beside the beautification of school gates the facilities of dining halls for mid-day meal, color coding, learning aids, landscaping etc. have been provided.