Disparity in scholarships promoting private schools in Gujarat, alleges govt school teachers’ body

“Due to this, a student is encouraged to shift to a private school. Further, with Gyan Shakti Residential Schools, Gyan Setu Day School, Raksha Shakti Schools running on PPP mode… (they) are promoting these private schools,” said the organisation’s representation to the CM.

“Government or grant-in-aid schools with such residential facilities are not covered under these schemes. This if continued for a long period will lead to closing of government schools,” alleged Gujarat Rajya Nagar Prathmik Shikshak Sangh.

The State Examination Board has been organising CET for students of Class 5 every year from 2023-24. Around 6 lakh students from all districts across the state participated in the CET examination for 2025-26 session. Chandrakant Khakhariya, president of Gujarat Rajya Nagar Prathmik Shikshak Sangh, told The Indian Express, “This is a sheer attempt to promote private schools by the state government. If the state government wants to improve the standard of learning of government or grant-in-aid schools then the scholarship amounts should be at par with the private schools not four times higher. Not only this disparity… the clause of an annual hike of 7 per cent in the scholarship schemes for residential schools that are being run on PPP mode is nothing more than injustice to government school students.”

The association further alleged, “In this way we are sending meritorious students of government schools to private schools. Ultimately, in the long run this will badly impact the result of the government and grant-in-aid schools.”

Meanwhile, Education Minister Dindor told The Indian Express that the schemes are already under a review.

“We are planning to form a committee to review these schemes. We are considering setting up a common scholarship plan for government and private schools,” the Education Minister said.

The government school teachers have also alleged that management of residential schools after declaration of result “contact parents directly and misguide them to leave government schools and take admission in residential schools” running on PPP mode with private hostel facilities. The list of scholarships against which the association has submitted a representation includes Mukhya Mantri Gyan Setu that has earmarked 30,000 students of Class 6-12 annually. Under this, against an annual scholarship from Rs 5,000-7,000 per student in government and grant-in-aid schools the private school student gets Rs 20,000-25,000. Similarly, under Mukhya Mantri Gyan Sadhana scheme for Classes 9 till 12, against Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,000 annual scholarship per child in a government or grant in aid school the private school student gets Rs 22,000-25000. For Gyan Shakti and Raksha Shakti Residential schools, a student gets Rs 60,000 and Rs 75,000 respectively with a clause of a hike of 7 per cent annually. As per the Education Department records, a total of 45,816 students have been allotted admission or scholarship assistance in residential schools for the academic year 2025-26 through CET.