Eklavya Model Residential Schools

Context

• The Kerala State Eklavya Model Residential School Society and the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) have signed an agreement for effective management of the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

Eklavya Model Residential Schools

• EMRSs are a flagship intervention of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide quality education to tribal students in remote tribal areas.
• The programme being implemented since 1998 have created a niche in the tribal education landscape of the country.
• The scheme of EMRSs was revamped in 2018-19.
• By the year 2022, there is a target of establishing 740 EMRSs across the country covering every block with 50% or more ST population and 20,000 or more tribal persons, benefitting around 3.5 lakh tribal students.

National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)

• NESTS was established in April, 2019.
• It is as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to run and manage the schools.
• Ever since then, In order to ensure adequate availability of financial resources in the schools, the recurring cost per annum per student was enhanced.
• With the increase in recurring cost and the construction grant it was imperative that the qualitative improvements in the running and management of the schools are initiated simultaneously.

Significance of the MoU

• The MoU was signed with 21 State/UT Governments.
• The signing of the MoU is the first step towards positioning of EMRSs as harbinger of tribal education in the remote tribal hinterland.
• It would bring all States on a uniform and mutually agreed platform.
• With the execution of MoU, the schools shall be eligible for higher recurring costs so as to ensure qualitative improvements in the schools.