85 backward blocks identified for setting up model schools

The ‘model school’,as it has been termed,will focus on holistic education of the students.

A senior official in the Secondary Education Department said: “In every district,we have identified certain areas that are educationally backward and have poor facility for higher education.”

He added: “There are over 85 such blocks across the state,which qualify for the construction of model schools. These model schools will not just have the proper education module,but will also have the basic amenities like computer and science laboratories.”

The model schools,which will cater to students from the neighbouring villages and blocks,will have hostel facilities for over 100 girl students in each school.

“We have identified four educationally backward blocks in Vadodara district. These include Chhota Udepur,Pavi Jetpur,Kwant and Naswadi where we will come up with the model schools. Each school will be constructed at a budget of Rs 1 crore,” said R K Patel,District Education Officer (DEO),Vadodara.

He added: “Each class will have two divisions for 21 students each. One division will be for the English medium and the other for Gujarati medium students. We have already short-listed the land for construction,but are just waiting for the final official proceedings. We intend to start work in the next couple of months. The schools will probably be functional by the next academic session.”

Rajkot District Education Officer (DEO) R D Bagda said three educationally backward blocks have been identified in the district.

“There is a lot of emphasis on introduction of extracurricular activities and also NCC and NSS. This is a move that was awaited for the uplift of education,” he added.