Centre plans 2,500 model schools
In a first, the Centre has come up with a reverse Public Private Partnership (PPP) model proposal in the school education sector. As per the new proposal, the Centre has decided to tie up with private schools to set up around 2,500 model schools across the country.
Under the new system, the Centre will not provide land and buildings which is crucial for setting up educational institutions. Instead it will sponsor 25 per cent of the students. School managements will have to arrange for everything else like land, developing the school, design, finance, infrastructure, operation, maintenance, management etc.
The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) plans to have one model school at every block level. But this time, instead of Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs), MHRD is planning to restrict these schools only to non-EBB areas. In the first phase, MHRD is planning to set up 500 such model schools. According to the plan, MHRD will fill up 25 per cent seats available in these schools. It will contribute to recurring costs on per capita basis. An additional 25 per cent of such support will also be provided in respect of sponsored students as infrastructure grant. Initially both, the private party and the government, will sign agreements for 10 years.
Only schools affiliated to CBSE for classes between V and XII are eligible. Speaking to this newspaper, a senior officer of the Education department said that the new initiative was expected to enable the MHRD to bring down investment on infrastructure required to set up new schools. “It is like extension of the Right to Education Act’s provisions. Here instead of compulsory reservation, government will have 25 per cent stake in the available seats,” he said.
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