Chandigarh, 13 January 2025: Chandigarh has outpaced all states and Union Territories (UTs) in rooftop solar panel installations at schools, as per the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) Plus report for the 2023-24 session.
The report, compiled by the Union Ministry of Education, reveals that 75.2% of Chandigarh schools have installed solar power plants, placing the city at the forefront of sustainable energy adoption in education.
Delhi follows at a distant second with 33.4% of schools equipped with solar panels. Among Chandigarh’s schools, 88.4% of government schools, 85.7% of government-aided schools, and 81.8% of private and recognized schools now utilize solar energy.
UT Director of School Education Harsuhinderpal Singh Brar remarked, “Installing solar plants in city schools is mandatory. While some schools face challenges such as shading, the vast majority have fully functional solar power systems.”
The UDISE Plus report underscores Chandigarh’s commitment to modernizing its school infrastructure across several parameters:
Technology Access: Functional desktops and PCs are available in 99.1% of schools, the highest in the country. Tablets are accessible in 97.5% of government schools, also the highest among states and UTs.
Additionally, 93.5% of schools feature smart classrooms with digital boards and virtual teaching aids, topping the nation in this category.
Hygiene and Inclusivity: All schools in the city have functional electricity and washrooms. Washroom facilities for children with special needs are present in 78.7% of schools, with Delhi leading at 100%.
Additional Resources: Kitchen gardens are established in 79.6% of Chandigarh schools. However, digital libraries, available in only 11.7% of schools, remain an area for improvement as Tamil Nadu leads this segment with 98.9%.
Chandigarh boasts 230 schools, including 119 government schools, seven government-aided schools, 77 private schools, and 27 under other categories.
The city’s emphasis on renewable energy, coupled with cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, positions it as a model for sustainable and futuristic education in India.
