So, Gujarat’s government just did something pretty bold. In the 2025–26 budget, it set aside 60,000 crore. Yes, that’s not a typo—sixty thousand crore rupees—and it’s all for education. Crazy, right? Now, that’s not just a big number to flash around. The state seems pretty serious about reshaping how kids learn—from the dusty classroom in a village school to high-end engineering colleges talking about AI and future tech. Let’s take a walk through what’s actually going on—and no, this isn’t just a fancy PR thing.
Classrooms First: Making Old Schools Worth Walking Into
You know how some government schools still have broken windows, fans that don’t work, and benches carved with names from 2005? Yeah. That’s the target now. A huge chunk of this education money will go into making thousands of classrooms actually usable. Not just usable—smart.
Think clean walls, working toilets, proper lighting, and digital boards where needed. They’re calling it the "Mission Schools of Excellence" project. Fancy name, but in practice, it's about upgrading 25,000 classrooms. That’s a lot. But money alone doesn’t fix walls. Execution will be key. If local bodies and contractors do their bit right, this might finally make kids look forward to school.
Food, Travel, and Just Getting to School
Look, not every kid quits school because they don’t care. Sometimes it’s just because they’re hungry. Or the school’s too far. Or books cost too much. The budget seems to get that now. So, under a new nutrition scheme, over 40 lakh kids will get hot, protein-packed meals. Not just rice and dal every day—there’s talk of mixing in millet and other healthy stuff too. Good move.
And then, there’s the travel issue. For kids who live way off in remote areas, there’s 223 crore going just to help them reach school—buses, subsidies, the works. That might not sound flashy, but if you’ve ever met a girl in rural Gujarat who had to drop out after 8th because the nearest high school is too far... you’ll know how big that is.
Girls, Science & Scholarships: The Heart of the Budget
Now here’s where it gets interesting. This time, girls aren’t just mentioned—they’re central to the whole thing. There’s this new plan—under the name Namo Lakshmi. Girls studying in Classes 9 to 12 will get 10,000 to 15,000 per year straight in their bank accounts. No middlemen, no nonsense. The idea? Keep them in school longer. Because often, it’s not ability, it’s family finances that stop them.
Science students aren’t left behind either. Another plan—Saraswati Yojana—will give 25,000 across two years to students who pick science after Class 10. That’s supposed to cover lab coats, books, maybe even a bit of JEE preparation if they’re lucky.
And on top of that, there are merit-based scholarships like Gyan Sadhana and Gyan Setu. But let’s be honest—those will only work if the base-level schools actually function well. You can’t hand out scholarships if half the kids never reach the level to qualify.
Big Dreams: Colleges, Labs, and AI
Okay, now the high-tech stuff. The state’s planning to build its own version of an IIT—it won’t be called that, but the idea is clear. It’ll focus on semiconductors, green energy, aerospace, fintech... all the big-ticket areas everyone’s talking about.
On top of that, a few colleges are getting Artificial Intelligence labs. Like, actual working ones. There’ll also be a few “i-Hub” centers that help students turn projects into products, even startups if they go far enough. Sounds ambitious, yeah. But if even half of this works out, Gujarat might actually become a solid hub for applied tech learning—not just rote degree-churning. Also, five more colleges will get “smart classrooms.” That’s digital blackboards, online tools, and a few cool gadgets. Nothing wrong with a little tech if the teaching keeps up.
What About the Teachers? You Can’t Teach Without Them
Let’s be real for a second. You can paint the walls, put robots in labs, hand out tablets but if you don’t have teachers who show up—or even exist—then what’s the point?
- Good news: Gujarat plans to recruit more than 22,000 new teachers. From primary to higher secondary finally filling all those vacancies that piled up year after year.
- But here’s the real kicker: there’s also money for teacher training not just a workshop once a year, but consistent refreshers. New methods, new tech, new approach.
Because sometimes teachers themselves haven’t seen a smartboard before they’re expected to use one.
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Dropouts, Exams, and the Messy Middle
This part is tricky. Gujarat has had a rough time with dropout rates—especially after Class 8. Many kids, especially girls, just stop showing up. Sometimes it's finances. Sometimes it's pressure to work. Sometimes, no one knows why. That’s where this multi-layered approach might help. Free food, travel aid, cash transfers, scholarships, better schools—it’s all connected. If these things come together, dropouts might finally go down in a real, visible way.
Learning levels are another issue. Reading and math scores among Class 5 and 8 kids haven’t exactly been impressive. The plan includes evaluation tools and some new focus on foundational learning—let’s hope that doesn’t turn into just more testing and worksheets.
The Rural Focus: Reaching the Last Student
People in cities often forget—some kids still study in schools with no internet, no fans, not even electricity during half the year. This budget doesn’t forget. Tribal districts, remote belts—there’s a push to bring mobile classrooms, solar setups, even smart tablets in those regions.
Also, the income bar for RTE (Right to Education) has gone up. So more families can now get their kids into private schools under this quota. Also, free transportation for senior citizens and girl students—little additions like that make a bigger difference than they sound like.
A Quick Note on the Bigger Picture
It’s easy to be cynical about government budgets. But this one… feels different. The numbers are bold. The scope is wide. And the focus—especially on equity and skills—is refreshing. Sure, it’s not perfect. Execution will be messy. Some projects may fizzle. And teachers won’t magically become experts overnight.
But if Gujarat can even roll out 70% of this as promised, it’ll be a massive leap forward. At the end of the day, this isn’t about schools or boards or budgets. It’s about giving every child in Gujarat a better shot. A chance to study under a fan that works. Eat a full meal. Get on a bus without stress. Learn how to code. Or build. Or question. That’s what real transformation looks like—not overnight, but over time.
