New scholarship scheme replaces Gyan Setu Day School in Gujarat

According to the government, the scheme was cancelled as it felt that under the existing criteria, there was an imbalance in the distribution of schools across districts. “After scrutiny of applications from private and grant-in-aid schools, it was realised that there is more than one school with the required criteria in one taluka but not more than one school can be selected for the scheme. Also, while in many talukas, on the basis of Class 10 results, there were limited schools. Thus, with the objective of providing options to bright students in his (/her) own or other districts as per his (/her) choice the need to reconsider the GR was felt,” the new Government Resolution issued June 7 states.

The education department has been facing stiff opposition by various associations of teachers, principals and school managements against the four schemes — Gyan Setu Day Schools, Gyan Shakti Residential School, Gyan Shakti Tribal Residential Schools and Raksha Shakti Residential Schools — proposed on public private partnership (PPP) mode.

According to the scholarship conditions, a student must have studied till Class 4 in one school — self-financed, grant-in-aid or government school. Eligible students will be selected based on a common entrance test as was the criteria for the Gyan Setu Day schools too.

Under the scholarship scheme, private school students will get an annual scholarship of Rs 20,000 from classes 6-8, Rs 22,000 for classes 9 and 10 and Rs 25,000 for classes 11 and 12.

Similarly, for government or grant-in-aid schools, the selected student will get Rs 5,000 from Class 6 to 8, Rs 6,000 for classes 9 and 10 and Rs 7,000 for classes 11 and 12.

In addition, free bus passes will also be given to the students.

The government will also give government and grant-in-aid schools Rs 2,000 per student for classes 6-8, Rs 3,000 for classes 9 and 10 and Rs 4,000 for classes 11 and 12 annually.

A student can choose to stay in the same school or can opt for another government, grant-in-aid or private school.

For the schools to be eligible, they should record a pass percentage of 80 per cent or more in the Class 10 board results for three years, a single trust to run the primary and secondary school in one campus from classes 6-10 or 6-12.

Education officials said the government will consider revising the scholarship every three years. Schools will disburse the scholarship amount — divided equally in the first and second semesters — via Direct Benefit Transfer after ensuring 80 per cent attendance of the student.

Officials also claimed that Gyan Shakti Residential School, Gyan Shakti Tribal Residential Schools and Raksha Shakti Residential Schools will start as per the schedule in June-July 2023. A total of 50 Gyan Shakti Residential Schools, 25 Gyan Shakti Tribal Residential Schools and 10 Raksha Shakti Residential Schools will begin in the current academic session, officials claimed.