Gujarat’s ambitious ‘Mission Schools of Excellence’ has officially become India’s largest school education transformation initiative, marking a milestone in the state’s education reform journey. Under this landmark project, 13,353 classrooms, 21,000 computer labs, 1.09 lakh smart classrooms, and 5,000 STEM labs have been completed across the state.
Launched in 2022 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the mission aims to revamp nearly 40,000 government and grant-in-aid schools by enhancing physical infrastructure, digital tools, and educational resources. The Gujarat government has committed ₹12,000 crore to this program, with the World Bank contributing $750 million to support its implementation.
For over 22 years, Gujarat has focused on strengthening its education system, resulting in higher school enrollment rates and foundational improvements in teaching quality and infrastructure.
Key Achievements Under Mission Schools of Excellence
- Classroom Construction:
- 13,353 new classrooms completed
- 31,469 classrooms under construction
- Modernisation work completed in 27,872 classrooms, with 63,860 classrooms being upgraded
- Smart Classrooms & Digital Infrastructure:
- 1.09 lakh smart classrooms installed
- Work in progress for 26,000 additional smart classrooms
- 21,000 computer labs set up
- Computer labs for 18,000 more schools currently in progress
- STEM Education Boost:
- 5,000 new STEM labs completed, providing modern science and technology learning spaces
The project’s holistic approach ensures not only infrastructure improvement but also focus on digital literacy, STEM education, online assessments, and remedial learning. According to the Gujarat CMO, the mission will benefit nearly one crore students, laying a stronger foundation for primary, secondary, and higher secondary education across the state.
The ultimate goal is to build 50,000 new classrooms and 1,50,000 smart classrooms, ensuring that Gujarat remains a national leader in school education reform. This massive transformation reflects the state’s commitment to the ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’ visions, ensuring that students receive globally competitive education.
Conclusion
‘Mission Schools of Excellence’ is not just Gujarat’s flagship education project but also sets a national benchmark for comprehensive school development, paving the way for other Indian states to follow. With infrastructure, digital capability, and modern teaching tools at its heart, the initiative promises to shape the future of Gujarat’s youth and its knowledge economy.