Latest news with #KVs
India Today
16 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Kendriya Vidyalaya enrolment falls sharply, lowest in last five years
New enrolments in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) have dropped to their lowest point in five years, according to figures tabled in the Lok Sabha on shared by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in response to questions from MPs BK Parthasarathi and Sudha R revealed that fresh admissions, which stood at 1.95 lakh in 2020-21, slid to 1.83 lakh in 2021-22 and further to 1.58 lakh in 2022-23. Though the number rebounded slightly to 1.75 lakh in 2023-24, it has dipped again to just 1.39 lakh in the ongoing academic session (2024-25).advertisementThe overall student strength across the 1,280 Kendriya Vidyalayas in the country has also declined during this period — from 13.88 lakh in 2020-21 to 13.5 lakh this year. Kendriya Vidyalayas, set up primarily to serve children of transferable Central government employees, are considered among the most sought-after government-run schools in the the enrolment decline comes even as the Centre cleared the establishment of 85 new KVs in December 2023. Pradhan informed Parliament that these schools, along with the expansion of one existing KV in Shivamogga, Karnataka, will be developed at a cost of nearly ?5,872 funding for the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has continued to grow, with allocations rising from ?6,437.68 crore in 2020-21 to ?8,727 crore in Union Education Ministry has also recently raised concerns over falling enrolments in government schools more broadly. During discussions on the PM-POSHAN (midday meal) scheme earlier this year, States and Union Territories were asked to investigate reasons behind the enrolment dip at the primary and upper-primary levels across 23 regions and to submit detailed reports.(With PTI inputs)- Ends
New Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
After uproar, 31 of 46 KVs engage Tamil teachers
CHENNAI: Teaching of Tamil in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across the state has seen a marginal increase, at least on paper, following stringent criticisms by the MPs after it was revealed that KVs in TN did not have a single permanent Tamil teacher. As per the reply submitted in the Lok Sabha on Monday, to a question by DMK MP Kalanidhi Veerasamy, Tamil is now taught through the Tamil Virtual Academy (TVA), an autonomous body under the state government, in 40 of the 46 KVs in the state. In March, to a question by DMK MP and the party's parliamentary chairperson Kanimozhi, the centre had said only 21 of the 46 schools had this facility. The reply had led to widespread criticism as it showed that KVs in TN had 86 permanent teachers for Hindi and 65 for Sanskrit. The reply to Veerasamy also showed 31 of the 46 schools now engage teachers on a contractual basis to teach Tamil. The number was only 24 in the reply provided to Kanimozhi in March. Reiterating its stance, the Ministry of Education, in its reply, presented on Monday said KVs primarily cater to children of 'transferable central government employees from diverse linguistic backgrounds'. Therefore the medium of instruction used in these schools is Hindi and English. As 'specified category' schools, KVs are mandated to provide uniform education nationwide, with sanctioned language teaching posts only for Hindi, English and Sanskrit. However, the reply provided by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said Article 112 of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan's Education Code permitted teaching of regional languages if 15 or more students in classes 6 to 8 opt for them. In such cases, part-time contractual teachers can be engaged, the reply said.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Kendriya Vidyalayas enrolment at five-year low: Minister in Lok Sabha
The number of new students enrolled in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) fell to a five-year low in 2024-25, according to data presented by the Centre in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. New enrolments fell from 1.95 lakh in 2020-21 to 1.83 lakh in 2021-22, and 1.58 lakh in 2022-23. The number rose to 1.75 lakh in 2023-24, before falling to 1.39 lakh in 2024-25. The total number of students studying in KVs has also dropped in this period, from nearly 13.88 lakh in 2020-21 to 13.5 lakh in 2024-25, says data provided by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in response to a question from MPs BK Parthasarathi and Sudha R. Kendriya Vidyalayas — a total of 1,280 are functioning in the country — cater to children of central government employees who are subject to transfers. The drop in new enrolment comes even as the Centre approved the opening of 85 new KVs in December last year. Pradhan said the Centre 'has approved opening of 85 new KVs under the civil/defence sector across the country and expansion of one existing KV — Shivamogga, Karnataka— by adding two additional sections in all the classes at an estimated amount of Rs. 5,872.08 crore'. According to the data presented by Pradhan, the funds allocated to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) have seen a steady rise over the past year, increasing from Rs 6,437.68 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 8,727 crore in 2024-25. Earlier this year, during meetings with States and Union Territories to discuss the performance, plan and budget under the PM-POSHAN (midday meal) scheme, the Ministry of Education had flagged a drop in government school enrolment at the primary and upper-primary levels across 23 States/UTs in 2024-25, and asked them to identify reasons for the drop and submit reports.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra official clarifies figure shared in Lok Sabha regarding PM-SHRI schools in state is wrong
Officials from the Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad (MPSP) clarified that the figure shared in a Lok Sabha answer, that only 450 out of 860 (52%) of PM-SHRI Schools in Maharashtra have playgrounds, was erroneous. The data was provided on Monday by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary in response to an unstarred question by seven opposition MPs from Maharashtra about the infrastructure availability in these schools. A senior official at MPSP clarified that a playground existed on 783 out of the 860 PM-SHRI schools, and 450 grounds were being further developed under the PM-SHRI scheme. Dindori MP Bhaskar Bhagare, who had posed the question, slammed wrong data being provided in the Lok Sabha. He told The Indian Express, 'Look at the kind of wrong information they provide. In the highest House of the country, the information provided should be perfect.' What was the question? In the question, MPs Supriya Sule, Nilesh Lanke, Varsha Gaikwad, Bhaskar Bhagare, Bajrang Sonwane, Sanjay Patil, and Dhairyaheel Mohite Patil asked Minister to provide, among other information, the number of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and PM-SHRI Schools currently operational in the state of Maharashtra. Details about student enrolment, infrastructure availability, and faculty strength in these schools, and district-wise information were also sought. In the reply, data regarding 'INFRASTRUCTURE AVAILABILITY IN 860 PM SHRI SCHOOLS IN MAHARASHTRA' was shared, with 450 out of the 860 schools shown to have a playground. The official said, 'Total PM-SHRI schools in the state are 860, and in 783 of these simple grounds are available. Development of the playground sanctioned under PM-SHRI is 450. This was the data that we have provided. 450 grounds are being strengthened under this scheme.' Bhagre explained why the question was asked, 'We asked this question to know the reality about claims of ideal schools being developed under PM-SHRI. This was an unstarred question, if it was a starred question then there would have been a debate. Now we can give a letter to the Education Ministry that the given information is wrong and that a survey should again be conducted and proper information should be provided.' The answer also stated that 3,05,210 students were enrolled in the 860 PM-SHRI Schools in the state, and the total faculty strength was 9,141. Nashik district had the highest number of PM-SHRI Schools at 47 followed by Yavatmal at 42, Nanded and Solapur at 39, and Pune at 38. Mumbai Suburban had the lowest number of PM-SHRI Schools (2) while Dhule district had 10 such schools. Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Kendriya Vidyalaya Budget Up, Admissions Down: Centre In Lok Sabha
Admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas across India have plummeted to their lowest number in five years, with only 1,39,660 new students enrolled for the academic year 2024-25, according to a written response in the Lok Sabha from the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, on Monday. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan provided the data, which reveals that the overall student strength in KVs has also dropped to 13,50,518 in 2024-25 from 13,89,560 in the previous academic year and 14,24,147 in 2022-23. The decline in fresh enrolments continues a downward trend seen over recent years-from 1,95,081 in 2020-21 to 1,82,846 in 2021-22, 1,57,914 in 2022-23, and 1,75,386 in 2023-24. The query, raised by Telugu Desam Party MP BK Parthasarathi and Congress MP Sudha R, noted that a total of 1,280 Kendriya Vidyalayas are currently operational across the country, collectively enrolling 13,50,518 students. This marks a steady decline in KV enrolments over the past half-decade, raising concerns about shifting trends in school preferences and overall student intake. The government, however, is looking to expand the network with the approval of 85 new KVs under the Civil/Defence sector announced in December 2024, and the expansion of an existing KV in Shivamogga, Karnataka. This initiative is expected to cost an estimated Rs 5,872.08 crore, of which Rs 2,862.71 crore is allocated for capital expenditure and Rs 3,009.37 crore for operational costs. "At present, 1280 Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) are functioning across the country including 37 KVs in the State of Andhra Pradesh, 125 KVs in the State of Uttar Pradesh, 41 KVs in the State of Jharkhand and 78 KVs in the State of Rajasthan," Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated in the reply. The minister added that the expansion of KVs is "q continuous process", to meet the educational needs of children of Central Government employees, particularly those in transferable roles including Defence, Para-military forces, Central PSUs, Autonomous Bodies, and Central Institutes of Higher Education. The construction of permanent KV buildings remains dependent on land availability, lease transfers, detailed plans, funding, and administrative approvals, the Minister stated. Budgetary allocations to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) have seen a steady rise over the years. The funds allocated stood at Rs 6,437.68 crore in 2020-21, increasing to Rs 6,800 crore in 2021-22, Rs 7,461.25 crore in 2022-23, Rs 8,500 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 8,727 crore in 2024-25. Besides the regular grants, KVs are also receiving infrastructure support under the PM SHRI Scheme, which includes funding for ICT labs, science labs, smart classrooms, and LED lighting. For 2023-24, Rs 590.71 crore was approved under the scheme and Rs 295.36 crore released. For 2024-25, Rs 817.78 crore was approved and Rs 656.29 crore released. The allocation for 2025-26 stands at Rs 399.93 crore, which has been approved, yet to be disbursed. Despite increasing investments and expansion plans, the sharp fall in new admissions this year highlights a challenge for the KVS system, prompting questions about factors driving the declining interest and how the government plans to reverse the trend.
