Punjab govt to take help of corporates, NGOs for improving school infra

The Punjab government will take help of corporate houses, industries, NGOs and NRI organizations to develop infrastructure in government schools in the state.

A decision in this regard was taken by the Punjab Cabinet today at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, an official statement said.

A policy has been framed to enable these entities to participate in improving the quality of infrastructure of government schools in the state and in providing top quality free education to students of these schools.

Focusing on collaborative efforts and community participation in the development of infrastructure in the schools, the policy aims at improving equity and equality of education, it said.

An institutional mechanism would be set up for this purpose and school development committees would be constituted for each school, which will have members of school management committees as per provision of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act-2003, in addition to two members of corporate houses, industrial houses, NGOs, NRIs investing or donating in the schools, it said.

The committee has been mandated to monitor the working of schools, preparing and recommending development plans, and monitoring the utilization of grants received from corporate houses, industrial houses, NGOs and NRIs as CSR fund.

As per the guidelines, these organizations can participate in construction of buildings, rooms, toilets and libraries in the schools.

They can also contribute to books for school library, IT equipment for smart classrooms, computers, tablets or any other IT infrastructure with pre-loaded and latest software. Used and substandard equipment would not be recommended to be installed in the schools, the statement said.

SCERT approved e-content or study material, along with sports equipment, material can also be provided.

They can also contribute towards furniture, uniforms, books, other study material, stationary, science laboratory equipment, teaching learning material, water purifier, water coolers and any other facility.

The department of School Education will host details of schools requiring infrastructure on its Website and corporate houses may choose to invest in single or multiple schools.

A dedicated cell will be established in the office of the director general of school education for this purpose.

The policy clarifies that no commercial activity by the donors will be allowed inside the school and control of teachers in the school would be the sole responsibility of the School Education Department.