Tamil Nadu, West Bengal choose mother tongue and state boards for Eklavya Schools

Eklavya Model Residential Schools in their mother tongue and have refused to switch from state boards to CBSE as prescribed by the Centre.

As the slugfest between BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and Tamil Nadu continues over the imposition of Hindi, the two states have refused to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Centre to run Eklavya schools, which provide education to tribal students from Class 6 to 12. This means that education will be imparted in local languages under state boards.

These schools were introduced in financial year 1997-98 to provide quality education in remote tribal areas. In 2018-19 budget, the Modi government announced changes in running the schools.

The budget said, «The government is committed to provide the best quality education to the tribal children in their own environment. To realise this mission, it has been decided that by the year 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School.

Eklavya schools will be on par with Navodaya Vidyalayas.»

The government constituted National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), a separate entity under the tribal affairs ministry, to oversee construction of new schools, deputation of teachers and improved administration. Every state had to sign an MoU with NESTS for construction and management of schools.

While most states have signed MoU, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have refused to do so.
A senior official, who did not wish to be identified, told ET: «We have written several letters and held meetings with both states, but they have not signed an MoU.» This has meant that while NESTS provides a construction grant of ₹20 crore per school and ₹1.09