EKLAVYA MODEL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Education)

Context: Recently, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda announced plans to make 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools operational nationwide by 2025-26.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools

• About: A scheme for making model residential schools for Indian tribals (ST- Scheduled Tribes) across India.
• Origin: It started in the year 1997-98.
• Objective:  To impart quality education to tribal students, with an emphasis on not only academic education but the all-around development of tribal students.
• Nodal Ministry:  Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Implementing agency: National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS). 
• Coverage: 

oEMRS Guidelines of 2010: At least one EMRS is to be set up in each Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) / Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) having 50% ST population in the area.

oBudget 2018-19 announcement: Every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by the year 2022.

• These are being set up by grants provided under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.
• Key Features: Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.

o10% of the seats of EMRS can be filled up by non-ST candidates (shall not exceed the total strength of 480).

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya

• Establishment: The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti scheme was founded in 1986-87 in alignment with the National Policy on Education, 1986.
• Residential and Affiliation: These are fully residential and co-educational institutions affiliated with CBSE, New Delhi.

Kendriya Vidyalayas

• Approval: The Scheme of Kendriya Vidyalayas (Central Schools) received approval in 1962, following recommendations of the Second Central Pay Commission.
• Organization: The Central School Organization commenced as a unit of the Ministry of Education to oversee Kendriya Vidyalayas.