New Delhi, 10 December (H.S.): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday announced in the Rajya Sabha that the government will establish 50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in government schools across India over the next five years to foster innovation and creativity among students.

Responding to a question from BJP MP Tejveer Singh of Uttar Pradesh on digital classrooms, skill-based education, and teacher capacity building, Pradhan said that while school education primarily falls under the purview of state governments, the Centre extends substantial financial assistance through the Samagra Shiksha scheme.

The minister informed the House that this year's Union Budget introduced several ambitious initiatives aimed at modernizing school education. Within the next one to two years, all government secondary schools (classes 9 to 12) will be equipped with broadband and BharatNet internet connectivity to integrate them into the global digital network.

Adequate financial provisions have already been made for this purpose, he added.Sharing details of the innovation push, Pradhan said that nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs are currently operational nationwide, and their number will be expanded fivefold to 50,000 over the next five years.

“India’s education system is rapidly evolving into a technology-driven ecosystem. These labs will play a vital role in strengthening innovation and scientific temper among young students,” he noted.

Highlighting the government’s focus on teacher capacity enhancement, Pradhan said that District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) are being strengthened across states, and a new curriculum and framework for teacher education is under development to improve instructional quality.

Responding to another supplementary question, the minister emphasized that ensuring EdTech accessibility for every child remains a top priority for the government. “We are working with complete commitment to ensure that technology benefits every learner,” he said.

Pradhan further reiterated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a visionary and unanimously accepted framework that paves the way for India to become a developed nation by 2047.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar