Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal met members of the private sector, the Planning Commission and Minister of Labour and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge here on Tuesday to chalk out a model for setting up 2,500 schools under public-private-partnerships (PPPs).
The plan to set up 3,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in PPP mode in areas which do not have ITIs was also discussed at the meeting. However, unlike the school scheme, the ITI proposal has not received Cabinet clearance yet.
The proposed 2,500 schools, to be set up in the next three years, are aimed at providing access to quality education for under-privileged students.
Sibal said the need for new schools was huge and with financial constraints, it would not be possible for Government to set up the required number of schools in the immediate future.
The Government will spend the same amount spent on students in Kendriya Vidyalayas towards the education of 1,000 under-privileged students in each of these schools for a period of 10 years.
Gajendra Haldea, Adviser to the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, said about Rs 1,800-1,900 would be spent per student, per month.
He said the bidding process will not be financial and private entities with experience of running schools and with net worth of Rs 25 crore will be eligible. Further, one entity will not awarded more than 50 schools.
Disadvantaged students would comprise 40 per cent of these schools, which aim to provide education to 40 lakh students.
The operators of these schools would also be allowed to use the infrastructure for other educational purposes. “However, any profit made has to be ploughed back into the school,” said Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Plan panel.
Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Co-chairman of Bharti Foundation, who attended the meeting, said they had proposed that vocational training be included in school curriculum compulsorily. “Employability would increase if every child is given vocational training.”
He added that if and when ITIs are established under the PPP model, greater industry collaboration would mean that people are trained according to industry needs, benefiting all stakeholders.