Government is struggling to meet the 5% sub-quota for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in admissions to Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), which provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe children. Despite the quota being implemented four years ago, only 3.4% of students come from PVTG communities, with challenges including infrastructure gaps, teacher shortages, and education quality.
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Picture Courtesy: The Hindu
The government is struggling to meet the 5% sub-quota for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in admissions to Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
The initiative was launched in 1997-98 to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) children in remote areas. The objective is to provide these students with the best educational opportunities possible, allowing them to achieve equality with the general population.
Non-ST students can be admitted to these schools, but only up to 10% of the available seats.
EMRS are established in states and union territories through grants under Article 275(1) of the Indian Constitution. It follows the CBSE curriculum, and the education is entirely free.
These schools are co-educational residential institutions for students in grades VI through XII. Each school can accommodate 480 students, with an equal number of seats for boys and girls.
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, manages the establishment and operation of EMRS throughout India.
In 2019, the government established the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), and the first set of NESTS guidelines was issued in 2020, including the 5% sub-quota for PVTG students.
Currently, only 3.4% of the students in these schools come from PVTG communities. Despite the quota being implemented four years ago, the percentage has remained below the target, and there has been an increase in dropout rates among PVTG students over the last three years.
The states with the most PVTG students—Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Gujarat—are struggling to meet the 5% target. For example, PVTG students account for 3.8% of the student body in Madhya Pradesh, but only 2.74% in Chhattisgarh.
The main challenges that PVTG students face include infrastructure gaps, teacher shortages, the pressure to work for a living, and concerns about the quality of education provided. These issues have contributed to a higher dropout rate among PVTG students.
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PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUPS (PVTGS)
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Discuss the role of education and skill development programs in the mainstreaming of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). (150 words) |
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