The Directorate of Education (DoE) has instructed schools in the Capital to promote SHRESHTA (Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas) among eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) students. The direction, issued on Thursday, comes ahead of the May 5 deadline for students to file applications with the National Testing Agency (NTA), seeking to appear for the scheme's national-level entrance examination on June 1. The scheme, launched by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in the academic year 2022-23, is aimed at providing access to high-quality education in private residential schools to promising SC students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Only SC students with parental income up to Rs 2.5 lakh are eligible under the scheme. A circular issued by Samagra Shiksha-Delhi on Thursday stated, ".all heads of school are requested to disseminate the information to all concerned students and motivate them to participate in National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS)." To maximise outreach in Delhi, the DoE directed all heads of schools under its purview to “disseminate the information to all concerned students and motivate them to participate” in the entrance test. Schools have also been asked to use social media and other communication platforms to raise awareness, the circular stated. “Every year, 3,000 fresh students are selected under the scheme through a National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) conducted by the National Testing Agency. The last date to apply for NETS is May 5 on the website of NTA,” it added. The NETS (National Entrance Test for Shrestha) is open to SC students seeking admission in classes 9 or 11 in the upcoming academic year.
