UP Approves Rs 300 Crore Plan to Turn 14,429 Schools Into Smart Schools
Uttar Pradesh has approved Rs 300 crore to equip 14,429 government primary schools with smart classes, ICT labs, digital books and libraries.
The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a Rs 300 crore plan to develop 14,429 government primary schools as smart schools, expanding the use of digital technology in basic education across the state.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. The selected schools will receive smart classes in phases, along with ICT labs, digital books and digital library facilities. Teachers will also use tablets to support technology-enabled teaching.
Shri Tron India Limited has been designated as the implementing agency, with installation work to be carried out through competitive tendering. The approved cost is Rs 2,07,910 per school, including sanitation charges and GST. If the tender process produces savings, the government can use the remaining funds to cover additional schools within the Rs 300 crore allocation.
Uttar Pradesh already has smart classes in more than 32,000 schools, while over 15,000 schools have ICT labs and 1,129 have digital libraries. Tablets have also been provided to more than 2.61 lakh teachers across the state.
Smart classes in UP primary schools began in 2021, with formal operations starting in the 2022-23 academic session. The latest initiative will expand digital infrastructure based on student strength and enrolment, with the stated aim of improving access to technology-based education in government schools.
