Impact Of Ekalavya Model Residential Schools In Enhancing The Educational Attainment Of ST Children In Five States

Abstract

The Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) scheme supports the establishment and running of quality residential schools covering classes VI to XII for ST students in remote tribal locations of the country under the provisions of the Article 275(1) of the Constitution. EMRSs start at Class VI and admission to these schools is patterned on the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya model, through selection/competition with suitable provision for primitive tribal groups, first generation school goers etc. Education in EMRSs is entirely free, as in the Navodaya Vidyalayas. Each school will have ST Students from 6th to 12th standard and every class will have 60 students (30 boys and 30 girls) and the total sanctioned strength of the school will be 480 students. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) supports States/UTs for setting up these residential schools provided that they can ensure smooth management and efficient running of the schools including timely fund flows, recruitment of teachers in required numbers, medical facilities for students and staff, nutritious and hygienic food, and generally a happy and healthy environment. Sufficient land for constructing an EMRS is made available by the concerned State/UT free of cost. The scheme provides for a holistic and generous building lay-out, which includes all the features expected in a good quality school. EMRS funding is governed by liberal norms, both in terms of capital as well as recurring costs. The schools were required to be operated in each State through an autonomous society formed for this purpose. The EMRS intervention plans to achieve this overall objective by (i) To ensure comprehensive physical, mental and socially relevant development of all its students and empowering them to be change agents in school, at homes, in the village and in the larger society. (ii) To provide differential educational support in order to meet the distinctive needs of all the students form standard VI to XII. (iii) To support the annual running expenses in a manner that offers reasonable remuneration to the staff and upkeep of the facilities. (iv) To support the construction of infrastructure that caters to the educational, physical, environmental and cultural needs of student life. (Source: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GOI).