ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF
 NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAS
 

5.1 Opening of Navodaya Vidyalayas

In order to provide good quality modern education-including a strong component of culture, inculcation of values, awareness of the environment, adventure activities and physical education - to the talented children, predominantly from the rural areas, without regard to their family's socio-economic conditions, Government of India have launched a scheme to establish Navodaya Vidyalayas, on an average, one in each district of the country during the Seventh Five Year Plan period. 256 ' Navodaya Vidyalayas are at present functioning in 29 States/UTs of the country. The remaining districts are expected to be covered in coming years subject to availability of funds.

5.2 Headquarters and Regional Offices

These Vidyalayas are managed by an autonomous organisation called 'Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti' established exclusively for this purpose under the Chairmanship of Minister of Human Resource Development. The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti has six regional offices at Chandigarh, Pune, Lucknow, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Shillong to assist in its functioning.

5.3 Teaching and Non-teaching Staff for the Vidyalayas

Recruitment of Principals and teaching staff for the Navodaya Vidyalayes is being made with the help of a Committee constituted for this purpose at the Headquarters and the Regional Offices of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS). These Principal and teachers out of the select panels are posted to all the 256 Vidyalayas functioning now. Where selected teachers do not join, Principals have been authorised to fill the vacancies on ad-hoc basis. The non-teaching staff is recruited at the district level only with the assistance of the District Magistrate who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Vidyalaya Management Committee.

Posts of 256 Principals and 2719 teachers of various categories to be filled were advertised in the leading newspapers all over the country and selections have been finalised. In the first two years recruitment has been done only on deputation basis. Direct recruitment of teachers and Principals is under process now.

5.4 Admission of Students

Admissions to Navodaya Vidyalayas are made at the level of class VI. The basis of admission is a test conducted in the concerned districts in which all children who have studies in and passed class V from any of the recognised schools of any Tehsil/Block in the district are eligible to appear. The tests are designed and conducted by NCERT. A total of 34,227 children were selected in the last four years for admission in the 256 Navodaya Vidyalayas.

9

The Scheme provides for reservation of seats in favour of children belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population in the concerned districts subject to the national minimum level being maintained. The overall position is that: (i) 18% of the selected students are Scheduled Castes; (ii) 12% are Scheduled Tribes; and (iii) 23% are girls. A provisional study of 200 Vidalayas reveals that (i) 40% of the children selected come from families with an income below the poverty line; (ii) 78% belong to the rural areas and (iii) 16% are first generation learners.

5.5 Construction of Navodaya Vidyalaya Buildings

Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the work of construction of Navodaya Vidyalayas. They are responsible for conducting site surveys and soil investigation and preparation of architectural working plans, etc. The design of the Navodaya Vidyalaya building prepared by CBRI was also shown to the Prime Minister. For implementing the programme of construction work, a Construction Coordination Committee has been set up in the Samiti. Twenty-eight Construction Agencies which include CPWD, States PWDs and National and State Construction Corporations have been identified and schools allotted to them for construction. Necessary agreements for construction have been signed with construction agencies other than the State Public Works Departments and the Central Public Works Department and funds released to them. The average cost of construction of each Vidyalaya complex has been estimated by the CBRI to be upto Rs. 2.30 crores. The construction would be undertaken in two phases. According to the estimates, the costs may vary between Rs.1.16 crores and Rs. 1.29 crores in the first phase and it may vary between Rs. 0.89 crores and Rs. 0.99 crores in the second phase. While the first phase of construction will cater to the requirements of classes VI to Ix (320 students), the second phase would cater to the requirements of classes X to XII (240 students).

5.6 Improving Academic Contents in Vidyalayas

Though the Samiti has been fully engaged in the establishment of the Vidyalayas in the first two years of its inception, adequate attention is being given to the academic contents in the Vidyalayas by (a) taking assistance of experts in the field of academics; (b) conducting number of orientation and inservice courses for the Principal and teachers particularly with reference to management of residential schools; (c) seeking the assistance of expert bodies like National Council of Educational Research and Training, Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and Central Board of Secondary Education, Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Central Institute of Indian Languages etc. The three Language Formula is prescribed for compliance in all the Vidyalayas. In order to give guidance on academic matters, the Samiti has set up an Academic Advisory Committee.

10

5.7 Migration of Students

The scheme provides for migration of students of one Navodaya Vidyalaya from Hindi speaking districts to another Navodaya Vidyalaya in non-Hindi speaking districts and vice versa. This is a very important aspect of the scheme aimed at promoting National integration. Amongst the two experimental schools started in 1985-86, one at Amravati in Maharashtra and another at Jhajjar in Haryana, the migration of students has already taken place and students from each of these Vidyalayas have opted voluntarily for such migration.

5.8 Budget and Expenditure for Navodaya Vidyalayas

An outlay of rs. 500 crores has been envisaged in the Seventh Five Year Plan for the establishment of 499 Navodaya Vidyalyas, one in each district of the country during the Plan period. The year-wise budget provision has been as follows:

        
                  Year                Rs.in Crores
        
                  1985-86                  2.00 
                  
                  1986-87                 20.00
        
                  1987-88                 69.00
        
                  1988-89                 69.30
        
        
                                          

5.9 Future

The principal problem regarding implementation of the programme of Navodaya Vidalayas is inadequacy of funds. As against Rs. 150 crores required for the year 1988-89, the allocation given is only Rs. 69.30 crores. Consequently, future phasing has been planned for construction of building. This implies provision of very meagre accommodation for academic as well as residential buildings. Apart from immediate inadequacy of infrastructure, the overall ultimate cost of construction would also substantially exceed the original estimates due to inflation. Further, physical facilities in terms of buildings for Navodaya Vidyalayas as well as for residential purposes for students and staff may lose their enchantment/attraction, as originally envisaged in the scheme, building have to be added piecemeal. Thus, keeping the financial constraints in view, the Executive Committee of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti has decided in its meeting hold on 9.9.88 not to open any more Vidyalayas in 1989-90 but to consolidate the existing 256 Navodaya Vidyalayas. There is need for a very substantial step-up in allocation of funds for properly running and managing even these 256 Vidyalayas in the year 1989-90.

11