The Delhi government will spend more than Rs 900 crore on the digital classroom initiative, and 18,996 smart blackboards will be installed

The Delhi government has approved more than Rs 900 crore for the digital classroom initiative. Under this, 18,996 smart blackboards will be installed.

There is good news for government schools in Delhi. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said that the cabinet has approved the budget to install more than 18,000 smart blackboards in the classrooms of government schools. Sood said that 2,466 smart blackboards will be installed in 'CM Shri Schools'. He said, "The work of installing (total) 18,996 smart blackboards will be done in five phases. The training module required to provide information about the use of blackboards has also been passed in the meeting."

According to a statement, the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has approved more than Rs 900 crore for the digital classroom initiative. It aims to implement key components of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

'Only 799 smart blackboards installed between 2014 and 2024'

"The scheme includes setting up 18,966 smart classrooms for classes IX to XII across Delhi by 2029-30. In addition, 2,446 classrooms have already been planned in 75 'CM Shri Schools'," Sood said. He said only 799 smart blackboards were installed in government schools between 2014 and 2024 and those too were installed through CSR donations.

'New reforms aim to take digital education to schools in underprivileged areas'

The minister said previous projects were mostly focused on middle and elite areas, but the new reforms aim to take digital education to schools in underprivileged areas like Najafgarh, Narela, Seemapuri, Mahavir Enclave and Kiradi.

'We did not cut the education budget, we prioritised it'

Rejecting the opposition's criticism over the budget allocation, Sood said, "We did not cut the education budget, we prioritised it. While others take photographs in front of school buildings, we are investing in classrooms and teachers." (PTI inputs)