Govt to set up 2500 public-private partnership schools

Updated on: Saturday, July 10, 2010

With the objective of providing education of excellent quality for rural and distant regions, the central government on Friday made the decision to establish more secondary schools in public-private partnership (PPP) in 2,500 blocks all over India.

The initiative by the government is a first of its kind to improve the quality of schooling for children in India. The schools that are to be set up would be based on the Kendriya Vidyalaya structure.

The Human Resource Development Ministry and the Planning Commission had been at loggerheads since the past three years as they had failed to reach a mutual decision over the modalities regarding the establishment of the schools.

At the meeting that was held on Friday, the central government had decided that the capital cost of the schools to be established would be incurred by the private partners whereas the government would bear the recurring expenditure for 40 percent of the students that it will sponsor.

The government also said that they will be funding 20 percent of the recurring expenses for infrastructural facilities for students that they have sponsored to study at the schools.

The schools would be launched by the government between 2011 and 2012 and completely established within the next three years. During the first year, 500 such schools would be set up. For the next two years, 1000 schools each would be established.

The schools would be made to follow the minimum standards of the Kendriya Vidyalayas. This includes the facilities for laboratories, hygienic drinking water as well as toilets. The schools would be affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

The payments to be made by the government and private partners would be decided as per agreements that will be signed between them regarding preference parameters.

The schools' managements would have complete liberty regarding the administration at the school but would have to conform to certain parameters which would be laid down.

An initial monetary supports for 10 years would be provided by the government to the schools, which would be renewable after every five years. Also, the government would also provide 25 percent of recurring expenses to schools in the North-East, tribal regions and in Jammu and Kashmir.

The private partners would not be allowed to have more than 20 schools in a state and more than 50 schools in the entire country.

Govt to set up 2500 public-private partnership schools

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