Background of EMRS Centralisation Efforts
- Objective: Elevate EMRS to the standards of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs).
- Key Announcements:
- Finance Minister’s 2023-24 Budget speech emphasized centralised recruitment of 38,000 staff over three years.
- NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students) was set up to oversee EMRS administration.
Relevance : GS 2(Education ,Schemes , Social Issues)
Current Status and Challenges
- Slow Progress on Centralisation:
- Second phase of recruitment (6,000 staff) stalled for over three months.
- Proposal for regional offices under NESTS still awaiting approval since December 2024.
- Proposal to raise per-child recurring cost pending with the Department of Expenditure since November 2024.
- Weak Administrative Authority of NESTS:
- Lacks mandated control over State societies running schools.
- Unable to enforce inspections and oversight.
- State societies operate autonomously, often bypassing NESTS directives.
- Staffing and Recruitment Issues:
- Severe manpower shortage: NESTS operates with only 34 sanctioned staff, while JNV administration has 491 personnel.
- Hindi competency requirement led to difficulties in teacher placements, especially in non-Hindi-speaking states.
- Recruitment for NESTS posts remains unfulfilled due to low pay and no promotion opportunities.
Financial and Operational Concerns
- Budgetary Issues:
- Financial irregularities found in State societies.
- Schools not purchasing essential items (e.g., uniforms, books) but transferring funds to parents instead.
- Governance Gaps:
- NESTS issued circulars reinforcing its authority, but lacks enforcement mechanisms.
- December 2024 circular warned new recruits against challenging NESTS authority.
Comparison with Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs)
- JNVs’ Stronger Administrative Structure:
- Managed by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under a centralised system.
- 661 JNVs with structured administration through eight regional offices.
- Sufficient staffing (491 personnel at HQ and regional levels).
- EMRS Lags Behind in Infrastructure and Funding:
- 728 EMRS sanctioned, but only 477 functional.
- Funding disparity: Per-student expenditure ₹1.09 lakh (EMRS) vs ₹1.70 lakh (JNVs).
Way Forward
- Fast-track Centralised Recruitment: Expedite the approval of the second phase of 6,000 staff hiring.
- Structural Empowerment of NESTS: Grant statutory powers for direct oversight and inspections.
- Increase Financial Allocation: Approve the proposed hike in recurring per-student expenditure.
- Address Recruitment Barriers: Improve pay scales and career prospects for NESTS officials.
- Resolve Governance Gaps: Strengthen accountability of State societies under NESTS control.
