Releasing the Smart School Policy 2019-20 to augment the existing infrastructure thereby revolutionising the state’s education sector, Punjab Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla on Thursday exhorted the community leaders or representatives, including the legislators, to contribute in improving the school infrastructure.

Singla, underlining the government endeavour in sprucing up the existing facilities in the State schools, also exhorted the community leaders or representatives to come forward in complement the state efforts.

“I have already written to all MLAs requesting them to attract the attention of all those willing to contribute towards this noble cause,” Singla added.

Referring to the Clause 7 of the policy, Singla said that anybody could contribute for the improvement of infrastructure in the school as per its requirement and with the approval of the School Management Committee.

“Such block or building within the school premises where the donor wants to contribute can be named after the donor or any of his relative provided such a person in whose name the block is named has or had good moral character and attained good reputation in the society,” he said.

Sinla said that such a proposal would be forwarded by the school on the portal and after obtaining the necessary confirmation regarding the donor or the person on whose name the building is to be named.

 Approval shall be granted online by the competent authority, he added.

Availability of classrooms, playground, educational parks, science labs, toilets etc impact the quality of education, he said adding that various studies reveal that the performance of students in such schools is better than those who study in schools with poor and insufficient infrastructure.

As many as 261 government high and senior secondary schools have already been converted into smart schools by the

Department. Apart from this, around 2,600 government schools have also been converted into smart schools with the help of school staff, CSR, NGO, NRIs and community, etc.

“A smart school, in the policy, is distinguished from any ordinary school.

Smart school is a technology based teaching learning institution, which prepares children for the information and knowledge based society apart from making their holistic development.

Each Smart school would have a separate classroom for every section of class as per Pupil Teacher Ratio, spacious, airy and well ventilated classroom; green or white board,” he said.

Besides, furniture for all students, separate adequate number of functional toilets for girls and boys, free sanitary napkins to girls, well equipped principal or head master room including staffroom would be provided to the smart schools. Well equipped science laboratories, vocational laboratories, ICT laboratories, etc.

amongst other facilities would also be provided as per the policy.