SDG Goal wise programs of India – Part 15

SDG Goal wise programs of India – Part 15

(இதன் தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்கு இங்கே சொடுக்கவும்)

Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

Launched Year:

• 1997-98.

Ministry or Nodal Agency:

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS): An autonomous body under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Objectives:

• To provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, particularly in remote areas.
• To bridge the gap in educational access between tribal and non-tribal populations.
• To enable ST students to access opportunities in education, and align them with the general population.

• To offer a holistic approach to education that includes not only academic learning but also cultural preservation and skill development.

Beneficiaries:

• Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from remote areas across India.
• Non-ST students can be admitted up to 10% of the total seats.

Eligibility Criteria:

• ST students in the identified remote areas of the country.
• Admission is typically for students in Class VI to XII.
• For non-ST students, a maximum of 10% of total seats are available.

Benefits:

• Free education: Including tuition, boarding, lodging, and other facilities.
• Curriculum: Follows the CBSE curriculum, ensuring alignment with national standards.
• Capacity: Each school accommodates 480 students, with an equal number of seats for boys and girls.

• Cultural preservation: Special provisions for preserving local art, culture, and traditions.
• Skill development: Focused training in sports and vocational skills.
• Comprehensive facilities: Includes state-of-the-art infrastructure for academics, sports, and arts.

Additional Information:

• EMRS schools aim to match the standards of Navodaya Vidyalayas, a model for excellence in education in rural areas.
• The government has set a target that every block with over 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons will have an EMRS by 2022.
• The government has been expanding the number of EMRS schools with a significant focus on providing education in blocks with high tribal populations.

• Recently, staffing responsibility for EMRS has been transferred to NESTS, with plans to hire 38,000 teachers for these schools.
• However, the centralization of the recruitment and the introduction of the Hindi language competency as a mandatory requirement has caused some challenges, particularly in the southern states where Hindi is less commonly spoken.
• This has led to protests and requests for transfers from teachers hired under this new system.
• These schools are integral to ensuring that ST communities have access to modern education, while also preserving and promoting their cultural heritage.

Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA)

Launched Year:

• 9th July 2015.

Ministry or Nodal Agency:

• Ministry of Education.
• This initiative is part of the Samagra Shiksha scheme.

Objectives:

• To encourage children (aged 6 to 18 years) to learn Science, Mathematics, and Technology through experimentation, observation, and practical application.
• To create curiosity, excitement, and a spirit of innovation among school children.
• To foster enquiry-based learning and promote a culture of innovation and hands-on learning.

• To make science and mathematics education more engaging and meaningful by involving both classroom and non-classroom activities.
• To encourage the involvement of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in mentoring and supporting secondary and elementary schools.
• To integrate contemporary subjects like artificial intelligence and design thinking into the curriculum as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Beneficiaries:

• Children aged 6 to 18 years.
• Students from Class I to XII.
• Children in open schools, special training centres, and special schools (for disabled children).
• State and UT government schools, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and local body schools.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Children in government and local body schools, central government schools (Navodaya, Kendriya Vidyalayas), open schools, special training centres, and special schools for disabled children.
• Age group: 6 to 18 years.

Benefits:

• Engagement in science and mathematics through hands-on learning, experiments, and model building.
• Encouragement of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• The creation of a curious and innovative mindset through school-based and external activities (e.g., visits to science museums and fairs).
• Mentorship from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to schools.
• Strengthened science and mathematics laboratories and improved teaching materials.
• Exposure to competitions, Olympiads, and other science-related events.
• Community sensitization to the importance of science and mathematics education.

Additional Information:

• The RAA operates under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, which focuses on quality and innovation in education.
• The initiative includes activities like organizing science clubs, mathematics melas, and teacher circles to foster collaboration and innovation.
• A key focus is on technology integration in teaching methods and strengthening teacher preparation for science, mathematics, and technology.
• RAA supports field visits to higher education institutions, science exhibitions, and student participation in state and national science competitions.

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)

Launched Year:

• 2008-09.

Ministry or Nodal Agency:

• Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy.

Objectives:

• To award scholarships to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to reduce drop-out rates at the secondary level (Class IX to XII).
• To encourage students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to continue their education in government, government-aided, and local body schools.

• To foster academic excellence and reduce barriers to education through financial support.
• To ensure that students from economically weaker sections have opportunities for higher education, thus contributing to national development.

Beneficiaries:

• Meritorious students from economically weaker sections of society.
• Students from Class VIII to Class XII in government, government-aided, and local body schools.
• Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 3.5 lakh per annum.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The student must be studying in a government, government-aided, or local body school.
• It is not eligible for the students studying in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), or residential schools.
• At the time of selection, the student must have scored at least 55% marks in Class VIII (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students).

Students need to pass two tests:

• Mental Ability Test (MAT)
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
• The cutoff for passing both tests is 40% in aggregate (relaxable to 32% for SC/ST students).

Benefits:

• A scholarship amount of Rs. 12,000 per annum (Rs. 1,000 per month) is awarded to eligible students for studies in Classes IX to XII.
• The scholarship is paid directly into the students' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

• The scholarship amount is renewable for the entire duration of Class IX to XII, provided the student meets the renewal criteria.

Additional Information:

• The scheme is fully integrated with the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
• Renewal requires a minimum of 60% marks in Class X (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST candidates).
• Promotion criteria: The student must clear Class IX to Class X and Class XI to Class XII in the first attempt for continued scholarships.
• State-wise reservations are provided as per state norms.
• No scholarships are awarded for studies abroad or for diploma/certificate courses.

Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat programme

Launched Year:

• 2014.

Ministry or Nodal Agency:

• Ministry of Education (formerly Ministry of Human Resource Development).

Objectives:

• To enable children to become independent, motivated, and engaged readers and writers with comprehension.
• To help children understand reasoning in the domain of measurement, numbers, and shapes.
• To promote the independent problem-solving skills through spatial understanding and numeracy.

• To associate writing and reading with real-life, joyful experiences.
• To facilitate the smooth transition from home to school while using children’s literature to support the development of writing and reading skills.

Beneficiaries:

• Children studying in government primary schools, particularly in classes I and II.
• Children from Balvatika (early education) through Grade 8, with a focus on foundational literacy and numeracy.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Children studying in government primary schools (Classes I-II) or Balvatika to Grade 8.
• The programme targets children who need support in early literacy and numeracy, especially those who may be lagging behind in these foundational skills.

Benefits:

• Ensures access to primary education for more children.
• Focuses on improving literacy and numeracy from early education, particularly in children’s mother tongue.
• Helps in the development of critical thinking, vocabulary, and creativity.
• Enhances a child’s ability to express verbally and in writing.

• It provides reading materials in comfortable languages, gradually introducing children to English, which is essential for future success.

Additional Information:

• The programme is a sub-component of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), now integrated into Samagra Shiksha.
• The Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat programme also includes capacity building for teachers, educational administrators, and school management committees (SMCs).
• A 100-day Padhe Bharat Reading Campaign was launched in 2022, focusing on fostering a culture of joyful reading among children through various activities.
• It supports various initiatives like remedial teaching, library grants for schools, teacher training, and the provision of science and maths kits.

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