New Delhi, Sep 16 (UNI) Concerned that as many as 32 out of 598 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas were found to be functioning from temporary sites, a Parliamentary panel has urged the School Education and Literacy to expedite the construction of permanent structures for JNVs.
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, which are a system of alternate residential schools for gifted students in India, were set up to tap the best of rural talent to enable them to compete with their urban counterparts on an equal footing.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Development Resource Ministry led by Dr Satyanarain Jatiya in its report tabled in Parliament, impressed upon the Department to 'expedite the process of construction of permanent structures for JNVs' and asked that the steps taken be informed to the Committee in its Action Taken Note.
As on December 31, 2016, 32 of the total 598 JNVs were operating from temporary sites.
Over the past three years, 12 JNVs were shifted to permanent campus in 2015-16, 15 in 2016-17 and 10 JNVs in 2017-18.
Altogether, 30 of 62 new JNVs were sanctioned in November 2016.
The JNV system, which began as a unique experiment, is regarded as unparalleled in the school education system in India and elsewhere, the report said. Its significance lies in the selection of talented rural children as the target group and provide them with quality education comparable to the best in residential school system.
On the positive side, the Committee taking note of the academic performance notched up by the JNVs, recommended expansion of the scheme to each block of the country, especially in tribal, border and rural areas, which would not only improve the condition of schooling system in these areas but would also open
up immense educational opportunities for the children in these areas, the report said.
However, the report noted that the Samiti had taken care to ensure that all basic and essential facilities were available in each Vidyalaya functioning from temporary sites. It found that Smart classes had been established in 475 JNVs, including the innovative Tinkering Labs schemes JNVs are run by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, New Delhi, an autonomous organisation under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Another area of concern for the Committee members was that a large number of teaching and non-teaching posts lying vacant. 'Since the JNVs cater to the needs of rural children, the Committee would like the Department to take steps to ensure that all the posts are filled up expeditiously as to ensure quality education to children in rural areas,' the report added.
UNI SD PS 1554