Over 200 government schools to be upgraded this year

Similarly, the School Education Department has also initiated measures to upgrade 100 high schools to higher secondary schools during the same period.

A senior official from the department told DT Next on Monday that ensuring access to secondary education was one of the key priorities of the State. “It has been the endeavour of the government to provide secondary school within a radius of 5 km from habitation. Consequently, the unserved habitations are identified with the use of GIS and are provided access by upgrading middle schools into high schools,” he added.

Stating that in order to improve access, a total of 102 middle schools will be upgraded this year, the official also said that 105 high schools will be elevated to higher secondary schools.

“Officials have already identified and works for the elevation are in process,” he added. The official also pointed out that the process would keep the retention rate high. “The number of admission will also increase when the government schools are upgraded,” he said.

According to the official, a total of 979 middle schools have been upgraded from since 2011-12. “Out of these 979 schools, 571 have been provided with required infrastructure under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and the remaining 408 schools are funded by the State,” he said adding similarly, 504 high schools were upgraded to higher secondary schools during the same period,” he said.

After upgrading the schools, the implementation of innovative teaching, learning methodologies and other welfare interventions have resulted in a substantial increase in the retention rate, the official said and pointed out that the budget allocation for the secondary and higher secondary education was Rs 13,164.33 crore for 2018-19.