Eklavya Model Residential Schools

In Context

• The Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been facing teacher shortage. 

• About 4,000 teachers have been appointed across the 378 schools, of which nearly 70 per cent are either contractual teachers or on deputation from state government schools.

Shortage of Teachers

• According to the guidelines issued to states in 2020 by NESTS, each school had been recommended to have a total of 52 staffers, of which 30 were meant to be teaching positions.
• Therefore, 378 schools should have a total of 11,340 teachers.

What are EMRS?

• Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is a Government of India scheme for model residential schools, specifically for Scheduled Tribes across India. 
• It aims to ensure tribal students get access to quality education in the remote tribal areas. 
• It is one of the flagship interventions of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and was introduced in the year 1997-98.
• EMRSs are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India. 

They provide modern state-of-the art educational facilities as per the norms of Central Board of School Education (CBSE) and National Educational Society for Tribal Students (NEST).

Source:TH