For better education, Delhi to get 'Schools of Excellence'

NEW DELHI: The New Year will bring reason to cheer for residents of the national Capital, as the Delhi government will soon introduce a new type of 'School of Excellence' aimed at providing high quality education to students.

"These schools will be English medium and students would be taught by teachers with the best performance in Delhi government schools," said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday.

He added that the admission process for students for nursery to Class V, and for Class IX and Class 11 would start next year.

The new buildings of Schools of Excellence in Rohini, Khichdipur, Kalkaji, Madanpur Khadar and Dwarka are ready.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

At present, there are three categories of government schools running in the national Capital, namely Rajkiya Vidyalaya, Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya and Sarvodaya Vidyalaya.

"These schools will be open for all kinds of students and anyone can apply. We will not select students here based on any category, but only performance," said Sisodia, who also holds the portfolio of Education minister.

He said that in Pratibha Vidyalaya, students are admitted after entrance tests while in Sarvodaya and Rajkiya Vidyalaya, there is no such condition, he said.

"For admission to Schools of Excellence, neighbourhood criteria will be followed. The number of seats in these schools would be limited: twenty five students in each section of the nursery to Class V.

"However, there will be written tests for admission in Class IX and Class XI," Sisodia added.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government also announced to set up a world-class skill centre in south west Delhi's Jaunapur.

"The Cabinet has approved Rs 254 crore for setting up the world-class skill centre. Construction of the skill centre will be completed in the next two years," Sisodia said.

This would be second such skill centre in the national Capital, after the one in east Delhi's Vivek area.

"The target of the government is to provide training to nearly 15,000 students here. But we are starting with 5,000 students and the number will increase with time," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He also said that the skill centre will help students secure a better job for themselves with higher salary.

"We want that the students of Delhi get an atmosphere of world-class education and training. These centres would serve these purposes which will help students to shine better," he said.

The Delhi government will launch many other skill centres like this in future, the minister further said.