Education – Infrastructure

New School buildings and additional classrooms

Modernizing Education infrastructure and creating the right learning environment is the goal of the AAP Delhi Government.

(New school buildings in Delhi)

A> 12,430 smart classrooms in 240 government schools inaugurated

On 19 Feb 2022, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated 12,430 smart classrooms in 240 government schools in the national capital at Rajkiya Kanya Vidyalaya in Rajokri.

These new classrooms have been built in just three years, exceeding the target of constructing 11,000 new classrooms.

With this, the AAP Delhi Government has built 20,000 new classrooms in the last 7 years, which is equivalent to 537 new school buildings, as per a statement issued by the Delhi government.

“Delhi has built more classrooms in 7 years than all state governments and the central government combined,” the Chief Minister stated (Link)

“This year, 3 lakh 70 thousand students have left many renowned private schools and taken admission in Delhi’s government schools. What can be a bigger certificate than this for the Education Revolution in Delhi?”, asked Arvind Kejriwal (Link)

“It was Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s dream that every child, whether poor or coming from a Dalit family, should get the best education….I am happy that Dr. Ambedkar’s dream has started to be fulfilled, after 75 years of Independence, at least in Delhi…Bhagat Singh had said, we will not attain freedom merely by sending away the British. We shall attain freedom only when the country’s poor and rich children are provided the same education. Today, I am happy that Bhagat Singh’s dream is being fulfilled in Delhi.”, said Arvind Kejriwal (Link)

“Bhagat Singh gave us the slogan, ‘Inquilab Zindabad!’. Today, I give you the slogan, ‘Inquilab Zindabad! Shiksha Kranti Zindabad! (Education Revolution Zindabad)”, said Arvind Kejriwal, winding up his speech (Link)

(Source: Tweet by DaaruBaazMehta)

B> Refurbishment of schools

• By 2017, the government had refurbished entire school buildings of 54 pilot / model schools,  equipping them  with modern infrastructure and technology.
• Since then, refurbishment of many more schools has been done.

The Government aims to refurbish 100 more such model schools as per the Vision-2030 document prepared by the Directorate of Education.

Smartboards and Projectors

SMART classrooms and e-modules have been introduced in Delhi government schools to make learning interesting. Laptops and other devices are made available to students and teachers to improve productivity and grasping textbook concepts. Other features introduced include smart boards in connected classrooms, video-conferencing facility for teachers, attendance marking in tablets etc. The AAP Government wants to do away with paper work in schools.

High-quality Laboratories in schools

High-quality science, maths and computer science laboratories have been introduced in Delhi schools since 2015.

Libraries

The library system in schools has been upgraded according to the Three tier library system that  will bring a library to every pre-primary and primary class, separate library for classes 6-10, and modernisation of existing libraries. The procedure for procurement of books has also been streamlined.

In 2019-2020, 4,513 Number of classroom libraries were set up in the primary section. 7.34 Lakh books were purchased for school libraries.

CCTV Installation in government schools

A project was launched in July 2019 for CCTV installation in all government schools. Live feed from the classrooms to parents will ensure accountability of the government to parents.

“It’s a historic milestone in school education in the country and the world as live feed from classrooms will be provided to parents on their mobile phones through an app … There will be no privacy breach, children go to school for education, to learn discipline and become good citizens of the country… they do not go there for anything private” – Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi CM)

As of December 2020, work of installation of CCTV was completed in 459 buildings. Surveys of 728 buildings have been done. Material for installation of CCTV has been delivered at 548 sites & work is being executed in 542 school buildings. (Source: Outcome Budget 2020-21 Pg. 31)

C> Construction of new schools

• 25 new schools were constructed by 2020, adding to the 706 schools that existed in 2015. The construction of an additional 30 schools were in progress in Dec 2019.

D> Construction of new classrooms

• The number of classrooms doubled from 24157 in 2015/16 to 45118 in 2018/19. 
• 109 BJP-run MCD schools were closed in 9 years whereas the AAP government model had constructed more than 20,000 new classrooms in Delhi government schools in 5 years by Dec 2019. This is equivalent to opening 500 new schools. 

Student-Teacher Ratio: Student Classroom Ratio was reduced from 62:1 to 33:1 in 5 years.

(Source:DDC Performance Report 2015-2019)

• Nanakpura Sarvodaya school, one of the model schools in Delhi, showcases the huge transformations taking place in schools.

Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE)

The AAP Delhi government has formed a new School Education Board called the DBSE. Delhi now has a State Board of its own. 

The board will be of international standards and cooperation will be sought from various global bodies. The government has studied best practices at international levels and will bring them to the board and schools in Delhi.

(Source: Education Department)

The government hopes that all private and state-run schools will come under the new board in 4-5 years. Government schools in the national capital will be brought under the new education board in phases, and private schools have the option to choose if they want to be affiliated to the DBSE Board.In Aug 2021, the Delhi Government signed an MOU with the IB (International Baccalaureate) Board, an education board from Singapore that works in 159 countries, to provide support to Delhi Board of School Education in curriculum and teachers’ training.

“There are two systems of education in India, one for poor and one for the rich. Poor children are admitted to government schools while rich children go to private schools. Now even our underprivileged children will get international-level education. This will eradicate their poverty. We have always believed that education can eradicate poverty. This model will also give a new direction to this nation and eradicate poverty on the national level.” – Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi CM)

30 government schools have been affiliated to the DBSE Board and are following the IB curriculum from the 2021-2022 academic session. Of them, 20 are Schools of Specialized Excellence (SoSEs) for classes IX-XII and 10 are Sarvodaya Vidyalayas for nursery to Class VIII.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

Schools of Excellence (SoEs) and Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Schools of Specialized Excellence (SoSEs)

6 Schools of Excellence (List of Schools of Excellence) with state of the art infrastructure and some of the best teachers of the Directorate of Education were opened in the city by Dec 2019. These have now been converted into Schools of Specialised Excellence (SoSEs). 

On August 19, 2021, the admission process began in 20 such schools offering the IB curriculum for the first time under the new Delhi Board of School Education in the 2021-2022 academic session.

On April 14, 2022, the 30 Schools of Specialised Excellence were renamed as Dr. B.R.Ambedkar School of Specialised Excellence.

From the academic year 2022-23, 10 new Schools of Specialized Excellence (SOSEs) and the SBS Armed Forces Preparatory School will be operational. The total number of SoSEs operational in this academic session is 31. The admission process for the 2022-23 session concluded on Mar 6 2022 and the Directorate of Education received nearly 80,000 applications.

Admissions for the academic year 2022-2023:

(Source: Kapsology)

(Source: Jitender Singh)

Location of SoSEs (Source: Education Department)

• These schools cater to students who are gifted in specific areas of study such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Performing and Visual Arts, Humanities and High-end 21st century skills, SBS Armed Forces Preparatory School.
• They hold the potential to catapult students from even the most marginalized backgrounds to great heights of success in various fields by providing the right environment and opportunities. 
• They will provide holistic and experiential learning opportunities to students through creativity, smart infrastructure and problem-solving focused learning and teachings. It will also partner with universities, industry leaders and provide mentorship programs and schemes for the students.

In Feb 2022, plans were unveiled for constructing 3 new SoSE schools at INA, Hari Nagar and Lajpat Nagar, and a library at Zeenat Mahal. The school campuses will have world-class facilities with green buildings, smart classrooms, staff rooms, an audio-visual room, a playground, and terrace gardens.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Armed Forces Preparatory School

An SBS Armed Forces Preparatory School is scheduled to start in Delhi from 2022.

As of Feb 2022, applications for admissions to the first batch were ongoing.

The effort of the AAP Delhi government is to instill confidence in the children by dispelling the myths of NDA and UPSC preparation.

“The purpose of starting the SBS Armed Forces Preparatory School in Delhi is to prepare the children for the NDA exam and their physical fitness, personality development and mental development will also be taken care of. Also, for the first time this year, an army recruitment rally will be organized in Delhi, in Bawana Stadium.”- Udit Prakash, Director of Directorate of Education, Delhi 

(Source: JaivinAAP)

Delhi Model Virtual School to be established

“We want to create the world’s first virtual Delhi Model School. It is a dream project that has been presented in this budget, a classroom without walls.” – Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi CM)

The Education Minister, Mr Manish Sisodia, announced in the 2021-2022 Budget speech that the Delhi Government has decided to introduce the Delhi Model Virtual School (DVMS) under the principle of “anywhere living, anytime learning, anytime testing”. The initiative is an outcome of education going online over the last year in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

<Source: Times of India>

This is to cater to a cross-section of students, including those interested in studying from home, sportspersons and artists who need to devote adequate time towards honing their skills, school dropouts and other youth who want to complete their education, and those who want to benefit from the Delhi Model of Education. 

“It will be a unique experiment in itself, and will probably be the first virtual school in the world. Work has already begun on the design of this school and it will be my endeavour to ensure that this school is ready and functional by the next session.” – Manish Sisodia

The schools will be governed by the Delhi Schools of Specialized Excellence Society and will be affiliated with the newly formed Delhi Board of Secondary Education (DBSE).

Initially, the school will begin with about 200 students in classes 9 and 11, and later expand to other classes. At the beginning, the focus will be on students residing within Delhi and it will progressively expand to the other parts of the country at a later stage.

‘Lab on Wheels’ 

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia inaugurated a lab on wheels in April 2021. This is part of Delhi Technological University’s (DTU) “Education Reaches You” scheme. The lab will impart science education to students in Delhi government schools and underprivileged children.

The lab on wheels is a customised bus with 17 computers, two televisions, one 3D printer, cameras and normal printer that will hop around the city to give educational lectures, tutorials and teach school students as part of its outreach programme for guiding students in the domains of maths, science and advanced technology.

The Anganwadi Reform Revolution

101 Anganwadi Hub Centres have been set up for children from economically disadvantaged families. The centres are part of the AAP Delhi government’s ongoing reforms in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme under which the anganwadi centres provide food, preschool education and primary health care to children up to six years of age and their mothers. 

These have been set up by merging 357 Anganwadi Centres on the pattern of Pre-school delivery system.

“We recognised that care for children starts from the time when they are in their mothers’ wombs and learning starts from the day they are born. Our 10,000 plus anganwadi centres are the platform to provide this care and learning. In a way, these hubs are ‘mohalla play schools’ for the children of the common people who can’t afford play schools otherwise” – Dy CM Manish Sisodia

• In December 2018, spacious and vibrant ‘Mohalla Playschools’ were opened that cater to children aged 3-6 years from economically disadvantaged background.
• 101 Anganwadi hubs, 10897 Anganwadi centres were running as of Jan 2020.
• To strengthen the role of women in the economy, the government, under its “Saheli Samanvay Kendra“, will set up 500 anganwadi hubs in different parts of Delhi.
• Another initiative is Samriddhi, for special arrangements in anganwadi hubs for socio-economic empowerment of women and adolescent girls. For more details, please see section on “Social Security and Welfare”.

Anganwadi on wheels 

‘Anganwadi on Wheels’ is a mobile learning centre for children in street situations, aged 0-6 years. This has been launched in partnership with the Department of Women & Child Development, Delhi.  2 buses move between 10 sites within Delhi.

Nursery Class Program started

Delhi government initiated a Nursery Class program in 2017-18 to start nursery classes in all existing schools. As of December 2020, 306 schools are offering nursery classes. 95% of the seats are filled.

Montessori Lab inaugurated

A state-of-the-art Montessori Lab was inaugurated on 8 Mar 2022 by Dy. Chief Minister Manish Sisosida at Rana Pratap Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, New Rajender Nagar, New Delhi.

(Source: Tweet by AAPReport)

Delhi Teachers’ University

On 4th Mar 2022, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia inaugurated the Delhi Teachers University at Outram Lane, Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi.

“It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate the ‘Delhi Teachers University.’ This is Delhi’s first of its kind university that aims to prepare well-trained and highly qualified teachers. Arvind Kejriwal Government aims to inspire today’s students to become tomorrow’s teachers. The University will offer a new age integrated teacher education programme after Class 12. It will also emphasize on fundamental & applied research in education by collaborating with national and international organizations.” tweeted Manish Sisodia (Link)

(Source: Tweet by Manish Sisodia)

On 3rd Jan 2022, the bill for the Delhi Teachers’ University was introduced in the Delhi Assembly. 

While presenting the bill in the assembly, Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said the university will set standards like IIT, IIM, AIIMS and IIMs have in the past, and will be renowned for its unique curriculum in training teachers.

The blueprint of the Delhi Teachers’ University has been prepared on the basis of the vision of the new National Education Policy.

Apart from offering BEd, MEd, PhD, and certificate programmes, the university will offer training courses for teachers in-service and those who have graduated and looking to be upskilled. The university will also have national and international collaboration for the exchange of ideas and practice along with partnerships with schools to give hands-on experience.

More Info

Data Sources

1. DDC Performance Report 2015-2019
2. Status Reports of Outcome Budgets