By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 17 Mar: Under the Cluster School Scheme of the School Education Department, one cluster school will be established in each development block in the first phase. To ensure the availability of basic facilities in these schools, nodal officers have been appointed for on-site inspections in each block. These officers will soon inspect the designated schools and submit a detailed report to the Directorate, which will then be forwarded to the government. This will initiate the construction process for the first phase of cluster schools.
State School Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat stated today that, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, cluster schools will be set up across the state. The department has already selected these schools. In the first phase, one cluster school will be established at the secondary level in each of the 95 development blocks. These schools will provide students from grades 6 to 12 with basic amenities, including smart classrooms, virtual classrooms, tinkering labs, computer labs, subject laboratories, art and craft rooms, libraries, playgrounds, toilets, and other essential facilities. Additionally, these schools will have qualified teachers for all subjects, sports and yoga instructors, librarians, third- and fourth-grade staff, and Bhojan Matas to ensure complete staffing.
Dr Rawat also mentioned that senior officials from the Directorate, Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of all districts, DIET principals, and Block Education Officers (BEOs) have been appointed as nodal officers to ensure the availability of infrastructure and quality construction in cluster schools. These officers will soon conduct on-site inspections and submit detailed reports to the Directorate, which will then be sent to the government. Following this, the construction process for the selected cluster schools in the first phase will begin.
The minister emphasised that the government aims to develop cluster schools as educational hubs. Additionally, nearby schools with low student enrolment will be merged into these cluster schools. Over time, these cluster schools will be converted into residential schools to provide boarding facilities for students from remote areas.
Under the Cluster School Scheme, the following officials have been appointed as nodal officers for specific schools: Director General of School Education, Banshidhar Tiwari – Rajkiya Inter College, Thano, Dehradun; Director of Elementary Education, Ajay Kumar Naudiyal – Rajkiya Balika Inter College, Kotdwar; Director of Secondary Education, Dr Mukul Sati – PM Shri Rajkiya Inter College, Dineshpur, US Nagar; Secretary, Uttarakhand Board, Vinod Kumar Simlti – PM Shri Rajkiya Inter College, Mahuwadabra, US Nagar; Joint Director, Padmendra Saklani – Rajkiya Inter College, Talwadi, Chamoli; Additional Director (Garhwal), Kanchan Dewari – Rajkiya Inter College, Kot, Pauri; Additional Director (Kumaon), Ambadatt Balodi – Rajkiya Inter College, Bagwalipokhar, Almora.
Additionally, district and block-level officials have also been appointed as nodal officers and assigned schools accordingly.
