School of Happiness, School of Applied Learning to be set up

Amritsar, March 6

Presenting the Budget, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced setting up of Schools of Happiness and Schools for Applied Learning across the state, with a total allocation of Rs 16,987 crore for the education sector. In a first such push towards improving primary education, the FM also announced Mission Samrath, to be started for providing essential skills to primary and upper primary school students. While presenting the Budget, the state allocated over Rs 10 crore for “Schools of Happiness” in 2024-25, upgrading the built and classroom infrastructure across primary and middle schools in the state. Apart from that, the FM also announced setting up of “School of Applied Learning”, with hi-tech vocational labs to be constructed in 40 schools across the state.

The government has announced transforming 100 senior secondary schools into Schools of Brilliance and 100 primary schools into Schools of Happiness. The effort, he said, while reading the budget, is to promote skill enhancement and uplift quality of education in rural schools and focus on early learning.

The Schools of Applied Learning, will have job-oriented/book-oriented courses, with initially 2,000 students. The students will be taught vocational subjects like baking, financial services, insurance, digital design, healthcare science, beauty and wellness, with a focus on making them self-reliant and job givers rather than job seekers.

In higher education, a budgetary outlay of Rs 1,133 crore for 2024-25 to carry out developmental activities under medical education and research and Rs 40 crore for research-based infrastructure in universities has been announced.

Rs 40-cr for research

In higher education, a budgetary outlay of Rs 1,133 crore for 2024-25 to carry out developmental activities under medical education and research and Rs 40 crore for research-based infrastructure in universities has been announced