UP’s Project Alankaar Showcased As Model School Modernization Initiative At NDA Chief Ministers’ Meet

Uttar Pradesh's school modernization initiative, Project Alankaar, was presented as a governance model during Sunday's NDA Chief Ministers' conference in New Delhi. Launched in October 2021, the program has systematically upgraded 2,441 government secondary schools through a ₹1,420 crore investment drawn from state funds, central schemes, and CSR contributions.  

The project's impact is quantified in ASER 2024 findings: a 23% enrollment surge in secondary schools (2022-25), 11.5% higher primary school attendance since 2010, and 54.4% improved access to girls' sanitation facilities. Infrastructure upgrades include science labs (1,842 schools), computer labs (1,915), and smart classrooms (2,112), with all facilities meeting 35 standardized parameters monitored by district magistrates.  Notably, the program extends to 141 Sanskrit schools (₹14.94 crore allocated) and establishes new CM Model Schools featuring STEM labs and solar panels. Each pre-primary to Class 8 Abhyudaya School receives ₹1.42 crore for development, including mini-stadiums and water conservation units.  

While the initiative has reduced multi-grade teaching by 38% (DISE 2024), challenges persist in rural teacher deployment, with 12% positions vacant in upgraded schools. The project's scalability remains under discussion, particularly regarding operational costs - smart classrooms require ₹2.8 lakh annual maintenance per school.  

Education economists note the program's success in physical infrastructure contrasts with pending pedagogical reforms. UP's teacher training institutes currently operate at 67% capacity, suggesting potential bottlenecks in sustaining quality improvements. The next phase reportedly focuses on digital curriculum integration, with pilot programs underway in 47 Lucknow schools.