Govt to establish 440 more Eklavya Model Schools for tribal communities

The expansion of the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) is a significant step in the Union Government's commitment to providing high-quality education to tribal children.

With a target of 440 new schools, each block with a population of at least 20,000 tribal people and more than 50% ST population, as per the 2011 census, will benefit from these educational institutions.

The government's objective of offering tribal students a top-tier education in their local setting, similar to the model of Navodaya Vidyalayas, aligns with the EMRS plan.

Launched in 2018–19, this initiative will ultimately establish 728 EMRSs, benefiting around 3.5 lakh students across India.

The educational infrastructure includes well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids, computer and science labs that offer experiential learning opportunities, and libraries stocked with a wide range of instructional materials.

The accommodation facilities feature separate hostels for boys and girls, along with residential facilities for staff and students.

Essential amenities such as furniture, beds, and restrooms are provided in these hostels.

Sports and extracurricular facilities include well-maintained playgrounds and sports equipment to promote physical activity.

Additionally, dedicated spaces for extracurricular activities like music, art, and sports support the holistic development of students.

To ensure students' well-being, medical facilities and routine health check-ups are available.

The school infrastructure is enhanced with smart classrooms equipped with digital whiteboards and internet-connected computer labs to seamlessly integrate digital learning into the curriculum.

Vocational training programs are also offered to provide students with hands-on experience in industry-relevant skills, improving their employability and preparing them for the workforce.

Collaborative initiatives have been introduced to enhance digital education. One such initiative includes the establishment of smart classrooms with digital boards in partnership with MeitY and ERNET.

Additionally, online coaching for IIT-JEE and NEET exams is offered in collaboration with PACE-IIT & Medical, providing students with valuable resources and guidance for academic success.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) is partnering with EMRSs to set up 200 skill labs, resulting in a total of 400 labs across the schools.

National Scholarships for ST students include Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for students in Class IX and beyond.

Moreover, ST students can pursue graduate, post-graduate, MPhil, and PhD programs through the National Scholarship Scheme and National Fellowship for Higher Education.

To ease the financial burden on families, EMRS students in Class XII receive financial support by having their application fees for national-level exams such as JEE, NEET, and CLAT covered.