Sunday, 09 March 2025 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat recently directed the officials concerned to connect all residential schools to the Vidya Samiksha Kendra.
Rawat stated that he had instructed departmental officers to link several key institutions, including Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, Rajiv Gandhi Abhinav Residential Schools and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hostels, to the Vidya Samiksha Kendra. This connection will allow the residential schools to operate in online mode, enabling improved monitoring and quicker resolution of issues.
Further, he informed about plans for the principals and wardens of these schools to undergo a three-day training programme at IIM Kashipur focused on developing management skills. In addition, they will participate in educational tours to Sainik School Ghorakhal in Nainital, which will be conducted in phases to strengthen the management and educational activities of the residential schools, he said.
Rawat also emphasised the need for health camps to be organised monthly in residential schools and hostels to address students’ health concerns. He instructed that a pharmacist or nursing officer should be on routine duty once a week. Further directives included the establishment of a separate cadre for residential schools, issuing recruitment advertisements to fill vacant principal positions and returning principals and wardens who have been on deputation for over five years to their original posts while making new deployments.
Additionally, he instructed officials to increase student enrollment by filling vacant seats in classes VII, VIII and XI through lateral entry. A proposal for four new Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hostels was also to be prepared and public representatives along with administrative officers should be invited periodically to learn about the school activities, Rawat added.
Regarding the current status of residential schools in the State, Rawat said that there are 75 residential schools and hostels in operation. Among them, 29 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas are in the Garhwal region while 10 are in the Kumaon region. There are also 13 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hostels in Garhwal and six in Kumaon, while each district has one Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya. Additionally, two Rajiv Gandhi Abhinav residential schools are operational in both the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions.
