Education Department to set up future schools

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Education Department will start `future schools’ project - under which select government schools will be elevated to international standards - this academic year. Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb told reporters here on Tuesday that under the project, Rs 15 crore would be set apart for one school each in 19 constituencies in the state.  The Minister said that at least one room in a school would be turned into smart classrooms. The restructuring of schools as part of Right to Education would be implemented from this year. All teachers in the state would be given expert training spending Rs 1.6 lakh. As many as 124 Multi-Grade Learning Centres (MGLCs) would be upgraded to schools, he said.  The press meet was called to announce the activities of the department for the new academic year and to explain the projects undertaken during the last one year. HIGHER SECONDARYInfrastructure development projects worth Rs 51 crore would be undertaken in the higher secondary schools. Spending Rs 3.5 crore, training in arts, ‘souhruda clubs’ and student empowerment programmes would be undertaken in 200 schools. An IT-based project to develop the administrative capabilities in the department would be undertaken. Scholarships for students and reforms in curriculum would be mooted. VOCATIONAL HIGHER SECONDARYThe sector would be reformed in accordance with the changing times and would be restructured in such a way as to enable students to study vocational subjects along with Plus-II. Infrastructure development projects worth Rs 10 crore would be undertaken in the sector. HIGHER EDUCATIONAn amount of Rs 150 lakh has been set aside for the initial work of Technical University. Education Resource Centres will be opened in all engineering colleges. An ‘academic city’ will be set up in the state for international collaboration in education. A Global Education Meet will be organised. Ten colleges will be developed into ‘centres of excellence.’