Project Alankar: Transforming Education in Uttar Pradesh

Why in the News ? 

Project Alankar, an ambitious educational reform initiative by the Uttar Pradesh government, launched on 1st October 2021, has garnered widespread appreciation, including during a recent meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in New Delhi. The project seeks to revolutionize the state’s education system by upgrading infrastructure and facilities across government secondary schools.

Key Objectives: Project Alankar

Project Alankar aims to achieve:

• 100% compliance with 35 predefined infrastructure and facility benchmarks across 2,441 government secondary schools.
• A modern, inclusive, and conducive learning environment for students.

Key Features: Project Alankar

Infrastructure Upgrades:

• Construction of new classrooms, libraries, science and computer labs, and smart classrooms.
• Provision of clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities, with a particular focus on girls’ toilets.

Specialized Schools:

• Chief Minister Model Schools: Catering to students from pre-primary to Class 12 with advanced infrastructure.
• Chief Minister Abhyudaya Schools: Focused on pre-primary to Class 8, featuring STEM labs and computer facilities.
• Funding allocation for each Abhyudaya School: ₹1.42 crore.

Sanskrit Schools Revitalization:

• Renovation of 141 Sanskrit schools in 7 districts with a dedicated budget of Rs 14.94 crore.

Funding and Implementation:

• Funding Sources:

• State Government.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
• Contributions from Gram Panchayats, urban local bodies, and CSR initiatives.
• Voluntary donations.

• Monitoring and Oversight:

• Implementation is closely monitored by district-level committees, led by District Magistrates, and overseen by the State Education Director.

Impact and Outcomes: Project Alankar

Enrolment and Attendance Growth:

• Government secondary school enrolment rose by 23% between 2022–23 and 2024–25.
• Primary school attendance (Classes 1–5) increased by 11.5% (2010–2024).
• Upper primary attendance (Classes 6–8) grew by 9.6% (2018–2024), the highest in India.

Improved Facilities and Access:

• Library usage surged by 55.2%.
• Access to girls’ sanitation facilities improved by 54.4%, enhancing hygiene and learning support.

Conclusion:

Project Alankar exemplifies a holistic approach to education reform, focusing on infrastructure, inclusivity, and innovation. Its positive outcomes, reflected in increased enrolment and improved facilities, underscore its potential as a model for other states to emulate.