News Analysis India

Tag: Sainik Schools

  • sainik schools: Kerala Minister writes to Rajnath Singh on politicisation of Sainik schools

    Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has written to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressing concern about the alleged politicisation of Sainik Schools. According to a statement issued by Sivankutty’s office on Friday, the minister in his letter has said that handing over running Sainik Schools to organisations with political affiliations will erode the independence and openness of the institutions.

    “Sainik Schools are important institutions for future defence personnel and therefore, should not be dragged into politics at any level. “For this reason, I request you to maintain the reputation of these establishments to guarantee national security and ensure fairness in education,” the minister has said in his letter to Singh.

    Recently, an online media platform — ‘The Reporters’ Collective’ — had reported that the government handed over 62 per cent of the new Sainik Schools to people associated with Sangh Parivar, politicians from the BJP and its allies. Citing the report, the CPI(M)’s national leadership had alleged that a significant number of private institutions which have entered into an agreement with the Sainik School Society to run new Sainik Schools have RSS-BJP links.

    The Left party had also condemned the government for facilitating the participation of private players to run Sainik Schools and said the move reinforces “communalisation of education” and can also impact the “high secular standards” of military establishment.

    The report was rejected by the Defence Ministry which had asserted that a rigorous selection process was followed to finalise institutions to run the new Sainik Schools. “The political or ideological affiliation or otherwise of the applicant institution does not influence the selection process,” it had said. “Attempts to politicise or distort the objectives and implementation of the scheme by casting aspersions on it are unwarranted and misleading,” the ministry had added.

  • Union Cabinet nod to 100 affiliate Sainik Schools across India

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to launch affiliated Sainik Schools, with 100 such entities to be set up in the first phase across the country. The meeting presided over by PM Narendra Modi approved the proposal to set up these schools under the Sainik Schools Society, which is administered by the Ministry of Defence. The 100 affiliate partners are proposed to be drawn from states, non-governmental organisations and private entities.

    The move is aimed at providing cost-effective ways in reaching out to larger populations across all regions for larger benefits of the New Education Policy, said the Cabinet secretariat in a statement. Sainik Schools are credited to have groomed students in large numbers who went on to serve the armed forces over the years. 

    The move is likely to benefit about 5,000 students who are expected to gain admissions in Class VI in the 100 schools from the academic session 2022-23. The existing 33 Sainik Schools have a capacity of approximately 3,000 students in class VI.

    In another decision the Cabinet approved the continuation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) till 2025-26. Focus will be on sustaining ‘Open Defecation Free’ outcomes, with aims to achieve processing of solid waste in all cities. A financial outlay of Rs 1,41,600 crore was finalised from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

  • Government planning to set up new Sainik Schools in partnership with NGOs, private schools

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said it is planning to bring a new scheme for setting up new Sainik Schools across the country in partnership with NGOs, private schools and state governments.

    Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik also said in Lok Sabha that the government has decided to admit girl cadets in all Sainik Schools from the academic session 2021-22.

    At present 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country.

    “After the success of pilot project for admission of girl cadets in Sainik School Chhingchhip, Mizoram in the academic session 2018-19, the government has decided to admit girl cadets along with boys in all Sainik Schools from the academic session 2021-22,” Naik said.

    He said the proposal to set up new Sainik Schools in partnership with NGOs, private schools and state governments is aimed at providing schooling opportunities in “CBSE Plus” type of educational environment.

    “The endeavour is to provide schooling opportunities in ‘CBSE Plus’ type of educational environment by involving desirous government/private schools/NGOs to partner in establishing/aligning their system with Sainik Schools ethos, value system and national pride,” Naik said in written reply to a question.

    He said the schools are proposed to be affiliated to the Sainik Schools Society.

    Sainik Schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society which is under administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.

    The aim of establishing the Sainik Schools was to prepare the students from an early age for their entry into the Indian armed forces.

    Sainik Schools are established on receipt of specific requests from state governments.

    Earlier, only boy cadets were allowed to enrol in Sainik Schools.

    To a separate question, Naik said no formation or unit has been withdrawn from North-Eastern states during 2020-21.

    “In view of the security situation in the North-East region, re-alignment of operational role of some Army units has been carried out,” he said.