CM Rise Schools enter maiden session in Madhya Pradesh

By Bhavana

‘Aparajita’ Shukla

Defying concerns and apprehensions over any another COVID-19 wave, The CM Rise Schools in Madhya Pradesh have entered their maiden academic session. The CM Rise School is a brainchild of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who conceptualised it so that Government schools can impart quality education at par with that of private schools, particularly to students from poor families.

Students, who are in deficit academically due to COVID-19 pandemic for the past three years, now flocks these schools and their parents now eagerly enquire about the routine and the way teachers, would drain out their extra time

on the students.

“The CM Rise Schools have been opened with a view to overhaul present education method in schools, infrastructure and imparting quality education at par with that of private schools. Under the project, selected schools will be smarten up with digital technology, more parents-teacher interaction, safe toiletries, strictly trained teachers and school-hour security,” explains a senior teacher in one of the CM Rise School in Bhopal. Though most schools, visited by ‘The Hitavada’ Correspondent, yet to meet the standards laid down in the dream project, but overwhelming presence of students augurs well about these schools. Yet a few schools needed more classrooms where number of students is in excess of the seating capacity. In the name of the project, Some of the schools have only wall-paintings depicting moral education lessons in interesting way otherwise our correspondent found combined classrooms for different standards while in some, students share common mats for sitting and playing activities instead proper sitting arrangement of furniture. In the capital, most the schools except Model High School, suggest the project has been implemented in hurry to don’t miss the dead line.

“Since it is the first session, we are running classes at the existing school premises. The project is at nascent stage. We will have school buildings soon as construction work is going on and is expected to be completed within a year-and-a-half. We can expect new buildings by the end of next year,” Rashmi Arun Shami, Principal Secretary, Department of School Education, told ‘The Hitavada’. On quality education she said, “It is going on. Training for teachers going on. Although, We are little behind the schedule on certain things due to ongoing local body elections, yet we will overcome all shortcomings soon, say, by coming September several issues will be fixed. Result will be visible soon. There is no dearth of funds for the purpose.” Except, Model High School Bhopal, rest of the premises run at the minimal facilities as against proposed in CM Rise Project. According to state government plan, as total of 9200 existing schools are to be converted into the CM Rise Schools, of them 390 will come up in the first phase. The state government has earmarked Rs 7,000 crore in the Budget for this ambitious project. “If this new programme then moves more students from private to public systems, that could strengthen traditional schools,” said teacher.