Context: The government data shows that Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are struggling to meet a sub quota of 5% for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in admissions.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).
Major Highlights:
The findings show that:
- Just 3.4% of students in EMR schools now are from PVTG communities.
- The States that had the most students (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Gujarat) were also struggling to meet the 5% quota.
- In Madhya Pradesh, PVTG students account for 3.8% of the total students.
- In Chhattisgarh, they make up 2.74% of the student population.
- In Gujarat, just 21 students out of the total 10,688 belong to PVTG communities.
- Data tabled in Lok sabha highlighted that more and more PVTG students had been dropping out of these schools for the past three years.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools
- EMRS is a central sector scheme which aims to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribes (ST) students from Class 6 to Class 12.
- The government planned to establish one EMRS in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal population as per 2011 census.
- In blocks, where density of ST population is higher than 90%, Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS) can be set up on an experimental basis.
- Education is provided free of cost to tribal students in EMRS.
- These schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of students.
- These schools have special facilities for preserving local art & culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.
- Each school has a capacity of 480 students and is on par with Navodaya Schools.
- States can also run EMRS in alternative buildings preferably in Government buildings till the construction of schools is completed.
- Implementation:
- This scheme is administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organisation, has been created to manage and implement the scheme of EMRS.
Note:
- The provision to introduce a 5% sub-quota for PVTG students in admissions to Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) was introduced after their administration was centralised by setting up the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) in 2019.
- As of July 2024, 708 EMRSs have been sanctioned across the country, out of which 405 schools are functional.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)
- There are some tribes who are more vulnerable because of their extreme backwardness and low literacy. They are categorised as particularly vulnerable tribal groups.
- In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups.
- In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
- Criteria for identification of PVTGs:
- Pre-agricultural level of technology
- Low level of literacy
- Economic backwardness
- A declining or stagnant population Accordingly,
- 75 PTVGs have been identified across the country, spread over 18 states and 1 Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar) Among the 75 listed PVTGs the highest number are found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12).
Factors contributing to High dropout rates in EMRS:
The following factors which are primarily responsible for the persistent dropout rates in EMRS:
- Quality of Education: The academic performance of EMRSs has been below national averages.
- Achievement Surveys from 2017 show that EMRSs scored lower than the national average, with the highest score being just 52.8%, slightly above the national average for Scheduled Tribe students.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Many EMRSs lack adequate facilities affecting the learning environment.
- As of June 2023, out of 684 sanctioned schools, only 46 had their own premises; the rest operated in rented or government buildings.
- Teacher Shortage: There's a significant deficit of qualified teachers which adversely impacts educational quality.
- In 2021, 3,400 teaching posts were advertised, but the recruitment process was cancelled in 2022. Consequently, about 70% of teachers are either contractual or on deputation.
- Pressure to Work: Tribal students often face economic hardships, compelling them to work and contribute to family income, leading to higher dropout rates.
- The Tribal Development Report 2022 indicates that 48.2% of tribal children leave school before completing Class 8, and this number rises to 62.4% by Class 10.
To reduce dropout rates in EMRS, there is a need to prioritise infrastructure development and teacher recruitment. The government must ensure financial aid to tribal families and establish vocational training. Use of digital tools along with their robust monitoring would enhance academic and will foster long-term educational inclusivity.