By IANS
Jaipur : To improve literacy in the state, the Rajasthan government now plans to open 100 primary schools in remote desert areas in partnership with private organisations. On its part, it will provide land free of cost and invest Rs.4 million to construct the school buildings.
“As per a new policy, the Rajasthan Prathmik Siksha Parishad would soon invite applications from interested parties, institutions and organisations in this regard,” an education department official told IANS.
A six-member committee headed by the principal education secretary would vet and select the applicant private organisations, the official said.
The organisations selected would have to start the construction of the school building within six months. They would also have to appoint teachers and other staff for the school. The salaries to the staff would have to be provided by the organisation.
The organisation would be free to charge fees from students from the general category while the state government would pay the fees for students who come from the reserved category.
Rajasthan has been steadily improving its rate of literacy.
The number of literates aged seven and above has risen by 22.45 percent in the state against an all-India increase of 13.17 percent during 1991-2001.
Its literacy rate jumped to 61.03 percent in 2001 from 38.55 percent in 1991, though it is lower than the all-India average of 65.38 percent.
However, the state still suffers from high dropout rates, estimated at over 34 percent. The government has mooted the idea of “portable schools” to address this problem.
These schools, to be opened in Kota district initially, are aimed to reconnect with school dropouts.
“In Kota, we would have 10 such schools. These schools would be near slums. Land has already been sought from the Kota urban improvement trust,” the official said.
These schools would require a 50 X 50 sq ft space and a structure made of bamboos. It would have a room, a toilet and some basic facilities.
A portable school is estimated to cost around Rs.120,000.
Under the Shiskha Sambal Maha-abhiyaan, 1.65 million children in the age group of 6-14 years were enrolled and 9.6 million children were given free textbooks.