New Delhi: Children at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s AD Block primary school in Tagore Garden will get opportunities to explore artificial intelligence, coding and robotics through a science museum and a 3D immersive lab, as the civic body moves to develop 24 primary schools as ‘Nigam Shri’ schools.
Mayor Pravesh Wahi announced the school-upgrade initiative at a programme in Tagore Garden, saying it would follow the model of PM Shri and CM Shri schools. The Tagore Garden primary school will be among those developed under the initiative.
The event also combined financial assistance for families with new resources for classrooms. Approximately 5.25 lakh municipal-school students received ₹1,370 each through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), while IDBI Bank provided 1,500 computer printers and the non-governmental organisation SARD supplied a ‘Science on Wheels’ bus.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the financial assistance distribution programme at the school in MCD’s West Zone. The Education Department organised the event to expand educational resources, encourage technology-based learning and support children in primary classes.
Science Museum and Immersive Lab to Introduce New Technologies
Before the programme began, Gupta and the other guests visited the Aryabhatta Science Museum on the school premises. They examined science models, projectors and other educational resources.
According to MCD, the museum and the school’s 3D immersive lab are intended to introduce pupils to technologies such as AI, coding and robotics while supplementing textbook lessons with practical and experiential learning.
The facilities aim to encourage curiosity, develop a scientific outlook and give children an early foundation in technological knowledge and skills.
Wahi said the proposed Nigam Shri schools would focus on improving education quality, incorporating modern technology into teaching and preparing students for future needs.
He said the civic body was seeking to give its schools a stronger identity through better facilities, quality education and an improved learning environment.
₹1,370 Per Student for Uniforms and School Bags
The financial assistance announced at the programme was transferred directly into the bank accounts of approximately 5.25 lakh students studying in municipal schools.
Each student received ₹1,370, comprising ₹1,250 earmarked for school uniforms and ₹120 for a school bag.
MCD said the assistance was intended to reduce the financial burden on parents and help families arrange essential items for their children’s schooling.
The department linked the support to its wider objectives of improving equal access to education, encouraging regular attendance and strengthening students’ participation in school activities.
IDBI Bank Provides 1,500 Computer Printers
IDBI Bank provided 1,500 computer printers for MCD schools in the Chief Minister’s presence.
Gupta said the equipment had been supplied through the bank’s corporate social responsibility initiative and would help make educational and administrative work in municipal schools more convenient.
The printers form part of the effort to expand the resources available to schools alongside the science and technology facilities highlighted during the programme.
Gupta stressed the importance of cooperation between government institutions, officials, elected representatives and private-sector organisations, saying meaningful and lasting improvements in education required different stakeholders to work together.
She acknowledged the contributions of Oracle and SARD, saying such partnerships could help provide modern educational facilities and support students’ overall development.
‘Science on Wheels’ to Bring Practical Learning to Pupils
SARD has provided a ‘Science on Wheels’ bus for municipal primary schools, giving children opportunities to understand scientific concepts through practical learning.
The initiative adds a mobile component to the department’s educational resources, alongside facilities such as the science museum and immersive lab at Tagore Garden.
Gupta said institutional partnerships could help expand access to modern learning opportunities, while MCD described practical and experiential education as an important complement to classroom teaching.
Funds Sought for Teaching Materials and Examinations
Wahi said the Chief Minister had directed that the necessary funds be provided to MCD for teachers’ teaching-learning materials and examination-related requirements.
The support would help teachers access better classroom resources and make students’ academic activities more effective, he said.
The mayor placed these measures alongside the Nigam Shri programme, saying the civic body was working towards a cleaner, better-educated and developed Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership.
He said improved school infrastructure, technology-supported teaching and better academic resources were central to the effort to strengthen municipal education.
Mayor Also Highlights Free Healthcare Services
In a separate part of his address, Wahi referred to healthcare facilities provided by the corporation.
He said Delhi residents could access free services at Hindu Rao Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital, Lajpat Nagar Colony Hospital and Mata Gujri Hospital, and highlighted efforts to provide better modern healthcare through municipal institutions.
Senior Officials and Elected Representatives Attend
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Deputy Mayor Dr. Monika Pant attended as special guests.
Others present included Leader of the House Jai Bhagwan Yadav, Standing Committee Vice-Chairman Satyapal Singh, Education Committee Chairman Yogesh Verma, West Zone Ward Committee Chairman Harish Oberoi and Education Committee Vice-Chairman Amit Kharkhari.
MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar and Additional Commissioner for Education Sanjeev Kumar Mittal also attended. Local councillor Shashi Talwar presided over the programme, which brought together other elected representatives, senior officials and guests.
MCD said its Education Department was combining direct financial assistance, science facilities, digital learning resources and institutional partnerships to improve the quality and accessibility of municipal education. The proposed 24-school Nigam Shri initiative forms part of that broader effort, with Tagore Garden among the schools identified for upgrading.
