Odisha HRD

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval to the setting up of  6,000 Model Schools at the Block level  in the country. Initially, in the First Phase of the implementation of this Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 2,500 Model Schools will be set up in the Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs). These schools will be set up through State Governments.

            A model school will have infrastructure and facilities, at least of the standard as in a Kendriya Vidyalaya and with stipulations on pupil-teacher ratio, ICT usage, holistic educational environment, appropriate curriculum and emphasis on output and outcome.

Objective:   The main objectives of the scheme are,

¨       To have at least one good quality secondary school in every block.

¨       To have a pace setting role for these schools.

¨       To try out innovative curriculum and pedagogy

¨       To be a model in infrastructure, curriculum, evaluation and school governance 

The salient features of Scheme are as under:

• Location: 2500 Model schools will be set up in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs).

• Land:   Land for these schools will be identified and provided by the State Governments free of cost.
• Medium of instructions: The medium of instructions will be decided by the State Governments. However, special emphasis will be given on teaching of English & spoken English.
• Classes: The schools will have classes from VI to XII, or IX to XII.   
• Management:  These schools will be run by State Government societies similar to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

There will a continuous evaluation of the working of the schools by State Government agencies through a regular and well structured system of field visits. Besides, an independent agency may be assigned the task of monitoring of the scheme, including progress of construction for each State.

Financial requirement for setting up 2,500 schools during the 11^th Five Year Plan has been estimated as Rs.9,321 crore, of which estimated  central share  is Rs.7,457 crore.  Planning Commission has allocated Rs. 12,750 crore for this scheme under the 11^th Five Year Plan. Rs. 650 crore has been provided in the budget for 2008-09.

Sharing pattern will be at the ratio of 75:25 between centre and the states during the 11^th Five Year Plan and 50:50 during the 12^th Five Year Plan, while for special category states, the sharing pattern would be in the ratio of 90:10. The scheme will be implemented from the current financial year.

      The Scheme is, however, not to be implemented in the 6 states where assembly elections are being held, till the poll process is over.

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KKP/sa