As a vital bridge between a child's early schooling and their career aspirations, secondary education is an important phase in a student’s journey. It is an extremely crucial phase where students prepare for higher education and skill development and move towards their professional paths. To meet the evolving needs of students in this phase, Uttar Pradesh is actively revamping its secondary education sector. The state is now focused heavily on upgraded infrastructure, digital classrooms, updated curricula, vocational training, and targeted student support.
Expanding Education’s Reach
Uttar Pradesh’s robust network of secondary schools stands at 29,216 schools, including 2,460 government high schools and intermediate colleges. To make quality learning accessible to every student, new schools and colleges are being set up across the state. With the establishment of the State Sainik School in Gorakhpur and selecting 157 institutions under the PM Shri initiative, the state is significantly modernising its school network, aligning it with future learning needs.
Enhanced Classroom Experience
Technology-driven learning has transformed the secondary education system beyond traditional classrooms. Across Uttar Pradesh, 778 ICT labs and 1,236 smart classrooms are actively enhancing how students learn. With upgraded efforts, such as NCERT-aligned curricula, digital school mapping, and streamlined online administration, a more modern and effective education system is evolving in the state.
With enhanced focus on essential facilities like libraries, science labs, sanitation, clean drinking water, and student hostels, infrastructure development is underway in 2,383 government schools under Project Alankar. In addition, basic infrastructure upgrades are progressing across 590 government schools. These initiatives ensure that high-quality learning environments take root in a uniform way across the rural and urban areas of the state.
Through 29,216 secondary schools, the appointment of 99,191 teachers and principals, 778 ICT labs, 1,236 smart classrooms, and vocational education across 1,584 schools, the state’s secondary education is getting linked directly to future opportunities.
Today’s Learning, Tomorrow’s Leadership
Vocational education has been introduced across 1,584 schools in the state, which helps students prepare for a rapidly evolving job market. Also, under the Praveen Scheme, 990 government schools are offering industry-aligned skill training.
To boost students' knowledge, confidence, and job skills, schools in the state are offering nursing and paramedical career counselling, the PATH online learning platform, updated vocational courses, and NCC training.
Programmes like the PM Internship Scheme, CM Internship Scheme, and the Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Yojana are complementing the abovementioned classroom initiatives and are also creating fresh avenues for employment, hands-on training, and entrepreneurship.
Moreover, free test preparation for competitive exams like UPSC, UPPSC, NEET, and IIT-JEE is being provided under the Chief Minister Abhyudaya Coaching Scheme.
Equal Opportunities For Every Student
Under inclusive education, transport assistance is being provided to students in single-teacher and unaided schools. The state has launched the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Scheme to encourage meritorious female students to pursue higher education. Also, free sanitary napkins are being provided to support the health, dignity, and regular attendance of female students. Sanitary pad vending machines have been installed across 2,346 schools in the state.
To boost the morale of talented students, the state is offering them scholarships, tablets, and cash awards. Demonstrating this progress, 280,747 students from the state registered for the INSPIRE Awards 2025–26, the highest number in the country.
The state is combining modern learning with tradition. It has established 1,296 Sanskrit schools and 120 Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidyalayas across the state for a modern education model with traditional values. These institutions are placing strong emphasis on competitive exam preparation, digital learning, and career guidance.
This transformation in secondary education in Uttar Pradesh shows that the goal goes beyond improving just the exam results. It is the holistic approach where students are prepared for higher education, practical skills, and a rapidly changing job market.
