The government of Rajasthan plans to build portable schools for children living in slums. At least 111 such schools will be built under Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan this financial year in slums devoid of any specific land or building meant for schools.

There are many places in the state where schools are run under a tree or open sky, in community centres and even temples, where there is no building or land allocated for the purpose.

Two portable schools built on experimental basis have started functioning in the state capital Jaipur.
State Education Minister Kali Charan Saraf says Jaipur district will have the maximum 50 portable schools, followed by other divisional headquarters roughly having ten schools each.

He feels the concept of portable schools was ideal for slum areas where there is no specific land allocated for schools.

Students have to brave harsh winter and summer while studying in the open or under a tree at many places, he said.

The portable school would reduce their hardship as well as the dropout rate at the primary level, he hoped.
According to Rajasthan Primary School Council commissioner, Shubhra Singh, portable schools could be easily moved or relocated if the slum is rehabilitated in some other area.

Classrooms are being built under the specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standards. Each portable school with a 16x16 ft room and a 4-ft corridor, made with iron pipe support, ply and GIS sheet walls and false ceiling, will cost Rs 1.36 lakh apiece.