The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet granted in-principle approval for upgrading government middle schools into high schools and high schools into higher secondary schools to improve educational access and quality.
Under the plan, during 2026-27, 75 middle schools will be upgraded to high schools and 100 high schools will be upgraded to higher secondary schools.
Similar upgradation of 75 middle schools and 100 high schools will be undertaken annually during 2027-28 and 2028-29. Approval was also given for an estimated expenditure of Rs 635.24 crore for the initiative.
Under the Viksit Madhya Pradesh @2047 vision, the state aims to achieve a 100 percent Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2029. Based on district-level mapping, there is a requirement for 315 high schools and 214 higher secondary schools.
Schools located within the catchment areas of Sandipani Schools will not be upgraded. Students from such areas will be admitted to Sandipani Schools, and existing institutions may be rationalised accordingly.
Upgraded schools will function from existing buildings or other government premises. Additional classrooms will be sanctioned based on need and budget availability. The actual requirement for schools will be assessed using Gati Shakti Portal data, population figures, and U-DISE statistics.
Currently, the state’s Gross Enrolment Ratio stands at 75 percent at the high school level and 55 percent at the higher secondary level. The transition rate from Class 8 to Class 9 is 77 percent, while it is 68 percent from Class 10 to Class 11. The initiative seeks to address accessibility issues that often lead to lower enrolment and higher dropout rates.
