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Centralized hiring leads to language, and cultural barriers in Eklavya schools.

Syllabus: Indian Society/ Social Justice

Source: The Hindu

Context: The recent centralization of recruitment for tribal residential schools across the country, which introduced Hindi competency as a mandatory requirement, has resulted in a flood of requests for transfers.

 

Background and features:

  1. EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas.
  2. Co-educational Residential Schools: EMRS cater to students from Class VI to XII. Eklavya schools aim to match the standards of Navodaya Vidyalayas.
  3. Capacity: Each school can accommodate 480 students. An equal number of seats for boys and girls.
  4. Admission of Non-ST Students: Non-ST students can be admitted, up to 10% of the total seats.
  5. CBSE Curriculum: The schools follow the CBSE curriculum. Special facilities are provided to preserve local art and culture.
  6. The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has been established to set up and manage EMRS across the country.
    • NESTS is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

 

What’s the issue now?

  1. Compared to the 11,340 teaching strength that NESTS recommends, as of July 2022, all operational EMRS had a teaching strength of slightly under 4,000.
  2. Hence in the 2023 Budget Session of Parliament, the Finance Minister announced that the staffing responsibility shifted to the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS).
    • It was supposed to staffing 38,000 positions in over 400 Eklavya schools across the country.
  3. The recent centralization of recruitment also introduced Hindi competency as a mandatory requirement for the selection of teachers.
    • Earlier states used to have varying criteria and applied reservation quotas as per their State legislation.

 

Challenges to EMRS schools:

  1. Diverse Languages and Cultures: Tribal communities have unique customs, traditions, and lifestyles. They rely heavily on natural resources and communicate in various languages.
    • Eg: Centre guideline makes Hindi compulsory in schools
  2. Psychological Challenges: Native tribes face severe financial difficulties, often living in poverty without monetary resources, and relying on bartering for survival.
    • Eg: Forceful imposition of Hindi goes against tribal development.
  3. Reluctance to Learn: Most tribal people are not literate and are disconnected from contemporary education systems. New guidelines restrict the selection of local and culturally adopted teachers.
    • Eg: several staff recruited from the Hindi-speaking States are protesting postings to the Eklavya Schools located in southern States.
  4. Lack of Proper Guidance: Children in tribal communities often do not receive sufficient guidance for formal education beyond what is provided in school.
  5. Issue with NTA: The recruitment process for the 2023 EMRS Staff Selection Examination was entrusted with the National Testing Agency which is marred with corruption and paper leaks.
    • g.: the 2024 NEET exam paper leak issue.

 

Way ahead:

  1. Decentralised recruitment: Hiring local teachers and teachers who are familiar with tribal culture helps in effective education.
  2. Prioritisation of vernacular education: Emphasis and education in the local language is much more effective compared to the imposition of Hindi.
  3. Incentivise teachers for relocation: To counter the hesitancy of north Indian teachers to relocate to south India, the government could provide incentives to nudge them.
  4. Interlinking teacher: Since Navodaya Vidyalaya is on par with EMRS, the government can interlink two organization teachers to provide effective education.

 

Conclusion:

Accommodation and empowerment of tribal communities should be prioritized with local traditions and languages rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. The government should reconsider its centralized recruitment policy for EMRS schools to better align with these needs.

 

Insta Link:

Insights on India

 

Prelims link:

Consider the following statement regarding Eklavya Model Residential Schools:

    1. It was started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to SC and ST children.
    2. Non-ST students can be admitted, to up to 10% of the total seats.

Choose the correct statement:

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer:               B

 

  1. Eklavya Model Residential Schools is the initiative of which of the following ministry?

A. Ministry of Education

B. Ministry of Tribal Affairs

C. Ministry of Rural Development

D. PMO Office

 

Answer:               B

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