The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released comprehensive guidelines for private residential schools that aspire to participate in the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) for the academic year 2023-24. The scheme, overseen by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) under the Government of India, is specifically designed to offer quality education to meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) students.
According to the official notification, the guidelines outline specific measures and criteria that private residential schools must adhere to in order to avail themselves of the benefits of the SHRESHTA scheme. Below are the key highlights of the guidelines:
Eligibility Criteria for Schools:
The scheme is applicable exclusively to private residential schools affiliated with the CBSE up to class 12.
- Schools must have been in operation for a minimum of five years.
- The school’s pass percentage in class 10 and 12 must be 75% or more in the last three years.
- Adequate infrastructure should be in place to admit a minimum of 10 SC students in class 9 and 11 combined.
- The school’s status must align with residential criteria as per OASIS data.
Student Entry and Selection Process:
- Meritorious SC students are eligible for entry in Class 9 and Class 11.
- Annually, 3,000 students are selected for the scheme through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
- Students are allocated schools through web counseling based on their merit and choices.
Understanding the Scheme:
Schools are urged to thoroughly read and understand the scheme document to be aware of details such as maximum admissible scholarship, the number of seats, and obligations on the part of selected schools.
The scheme’s specifics, along with the school’s suitability and eligibility, should be carefully examined through the official documentation.
School Obligations and Reporting:
Selected schools must provide year-wise and grade-wise information on the number of students admitted to their institutions on their websites. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) selects schools based on data provided by the CBSE.
Consent Process:
- Schools interested in participating in the scheme must give their consent directly to the department.
- Once consent is granted, schools are obligated to accept the allotted students and cannot refuse them.
- For any issues related to selection, funds, or allocation, schools are encouraged to contact the DoSJE directly.
The guidelines underscore the importance of transparency, adherence to criteria, and active participation in ensuring the success of the SHRESHTA scheme. It aims to facilitate the smooth implementation of the initiative, fostering an environment where meritorious SC students can access quality education in private residential schools. Schools interested in participating are encouraged to carefully review the guidelines and initiate the consent process in accordance with the stipulated criteria.
