UP CM launches initiative to upgrade govt schools into smart schools; 28 lakh students to benefit

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath today inaugurated the ‘Sampark Smart Shala Smart Blocks’ programme with an aim to upgrade all government schools into smart schools. Sampark TVs and teacher training programmes are some of the initiatives under the programme.

The initiative aims to improve learning outcomes by 30% in the first year. Sampark Foundation will invest in Installing Sampark TVs that have lesson plans, lesson videos, worksheets, gamified assessments, songs, and stories mapped with SCERT textbooks for Classes from KG to Class 5. The TVs will work without the internet, the official statement read.

It will also provide innovative teaching learning materials (TLMs) for language and mathematics subjects to make both teaching and learning easy. “Teacher training of all teachers in the smart pedagogy of “Sahi Kram Sahi Dhang” so that teachers can use the Sampark TV effectively to improve learning outcomes,” it said.

ALSO READ | Uttar Pradesh UP BEd JEE 2023 answer key out for paper 1, paper 2

“These resources are carefully curated to align with the state curriculum and SCERT and are organized based on subjects and grade levels. State government education officers will support the activities and will closely monitor them to ensure the successful implementation of the program,” the state government said.

On July 4, the UP chief minister kickstarted the journey of making every block a smart block through “Sampark Smartshala” and “Sampark TV” starting with Chargawan Block of Gorakhpur District.

On the occasion, SAMPARK Foundation founder chairman Vineet Nayar, ACS Education UP government Deepak Kumar, DM Gorakhpur Krishna Karunesh, and other senior education department officials of the state were present.

18,000 govt schools to be upgraded to smart schools

“I am very pleased to have such a big-scale innovative program in our State. I am sure SAMPARK Foundation given their expertise and dedication will make it a success and the children of Uttar Pradesh would immensely benefit from it,” Yogi Adityanath said.

Sampark Smartshala is already working in 18,000 schools in UP in collaboration with the UP government. Talking about the programme, Vineet Nayar said: “We hope to convert these 18,000 government schools into smart schools, one smart block at a time, we have committed an investment of Rs 40 crores for this initiative with a hope of touching the lives of 28 lakh children.”

ALSO READ | A Kerala Sevens Football player from Ivory Coast inspired this JNU researcher to study French

After 100 days of successful pilot implementation in Nagar Kshetra, the programme has been extended to the Chargawan Block. The program has achieved significant reach in the Nagar Kshetra Block, which was completed in April-May 2023.

The facilities include a TV set for each school, a Sampark TV device, a Math and English Kit with an audio box, and Sampark Smart Shala application.

To make the learning easy for students, the programme will provide 500 lesson plans, 1,100 lesson videos, 450 activities that utilize teaching-learning materials (TLMs), 2,000 subject-wise and class-wise worksheets, 3,000 assessment Questions in the format of "Sampark Didi Ke Sawal" inspired by the popular TV show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC), Songs and experiment videos tailored specially for Class 6 to 8 science subjects.