Government announces 100 new Sainik schools to strengthen India's educational system

The establishment of 100 new Sainik schools was announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Jan 22 as a significant move by the Union government to raise the standard of basic education for the nation's overall growth.

He made the remarks during the inauguration of Vidyadhiraja Vidyapeetom Central and Sainik School in Mavelikkara, Alappuzha district, on Jan 22.

“Sainik Schools offer training that is somewhat different from pure education. It would play a key role in inculcating the values of discipline, dedication, and self-control among the students,” said Singh.

“At Sainik Schools, students are given academic and physical training. The objective is the physical, mental, and moral development of children,” Singh added.

This helps students who wish to join the armed forces achieve their goals easily. The convergence of defense and education is pivotal to nation-building,” he continued.

He added that Sainik Schools offer equal opportunities for girls.

“Girls cannot be left behind. This will ensure women’s empowerment and help them join the armed forces. If you ignore the spiritual, academic, value-based, and patriotic development of our children, we are setting a dangerous future for our next generations," he explained.

"It is being said that those born after January 1, 2025, will be called the beta generation and will have a higher capacity to learn new things and new technologies. Sainik Schools will act as a stepping-stone to them to make India a developed nation,” Singh said.

He further added that the Centre had chosen to expand the reach of Sainik Schools to every region and district in India, including persons from different cultural backgrounds and distant corners of the country.

Singh emphasized that as the country works toward self-reliance through developments in many sectors such as health, communication, industry, transportation, and defense, "there is a need for a revolution in education and the holistic development of children.”

He emphasized that a 'sainik' or soldier should be viewed beyond the lens of war. A soldier embodies discipline, focus, selflessness, self-control, and dedication.

These qualities are also found in great leaders like Swami Vivekananda, Adi Shankaracharya, and Raja Ravi Varma. Their battlefields, however, were in the realms of social, cultural, political, and religious reforms.