Objective:
- Providing quality education and opportunities for even the poorest is the Constitutional mandate.
- The students from the Scheduled Caste communities, for long been subjects of untouchability, were kept out of quality education, a situation that perpetuates the disadvantages carried forward for generations of discrimination.
- The Governmental efforts to spread educational facilities without discrimination have worked well in achieving near universal access. However, the objective of providing access to quality education that provides a level playing field, is still far from reality.
- The scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) has been conceived to provide access to high quality education to the students from Scheduled Caste communities.
- The objective of SHRESHTA is to
- enhance the reach of development Intervention of the Government and to fill the gap in service deficient SCs dominant areas, in the sector of education through the efforts of grant-in-aid institutions (run by NGOs) and residential high schools offering high quality education and to provide environment for socio economic upliftment and over all development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs).
- The Scheme is further modified to provide easier access to the bright SC students in the best schools in the Country, thereby securing their future opportunities.
Also Read: EWS Certificate Online Application Process In West Bengal, 2024
Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas
(SHRESHTA)
Schedule of Events-2024-25
| SL. No. | Activity | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Round Registration, Choice Filling and Locking of Choices | 29.06.2024 – 10.07.2024 |
| 2 | 1st Round Seat Allotment Result | 11.07.2024 |
| 3 | Online Willingness (Freeze) Option Submission | 11.07.2024 – 20.07.2024 |
| 4 | Physical Reporting at the allotted school for FREEZED candidates to complete the admission process | 11.07.2024 – 20.07.2024 |
| 5 | 2nd Round Registration, Choice Filling and Locking of Choices | 22.07.2024 – 29.07.2024 |
| 6 | 2nd Round Seat Allotment Result | 30.07.2024 |
| 7 | Online Willingness (Freeze) Option Submission | 31.07.2024 – 05.08.2024 |
| 8 | Physical Reporting at the allotted school for FREEZED candidates | 31.07.2024 – 08.08.2024 |
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SHRESHTA Schools – (Best CBSE Private Residential Schools)
Under this, each year a specified number of meritorious SC students in States/UTs will be selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA, to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and admitted in the best private residential schools identified based on the database of the CBSE,
The residential schools recommended under SHRESHTA by District Authorities in 2O2l-22 and other eligible private residential schools affiliated to any other Board, including State Boards, recommended by District Authorities for participation in the scheme.
Admission of students will be done in classes 9th and 11th for completion of education till l2th standard based on selection through NTA.
Thereafter, the students may be connected to Post Matric Scholarship Scheme or Top-Class Education Scheme to continue their further studies with adequate financial aid.
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Selection of Schools:
- The best performing private residential schools identified based on the database of the CBSE, the residential schools recommended under SIIRESETA by District Authorities in 2021-22 and other eligible private residential schools affiliated to any other Board, including State Boards, recommended by District Authorities for participation in the scheme.
- The schools should have been in existence for at least 5 years; should have more than 75% pass percentage in Class 1O and12 in the last 3 years, and should have adequate infrastructure for admitting at least ten (10) additional SC students in classes 9 and 11 classes (together)
- The schools will be required to give consent for admitting the students under SHRESHTA as per terms and conditions of the scheme.
- A Selection Committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary (in-charge of the scheme), a representative of Ministry of Education and the Director Internal Finance Division in the Ministry would finalize the selection of these schools in the beginning of every year.
- The schools so identified (hereinafter called as SHRESHTA schools) will be registered in the e-Anudaan portal along with the required school details and account details which shall be duly verified using the PFMS system.
- School being funded by the Central Government (like NVS/EMRS (under 10% quota)/KGBV/State Govt. school etc.) including the schools covered under the scheme which have been funded under PM-AJAY/Samgra Shiksha Scheme/ PM SHRI Schools of DoSEL shall not be covered under this Scheme.
Selection of Students:
Eligibility
- Only SC students studying in the recognized schools – private or Government or Local Body schools are eligible.
- For admission in the Class 9, the student should have passed the Class 8 in the academic year immediately preceding the year of admission.
- For admission in the Class 1 1, the student should have passed the Class 10 in the academic year immediately preceding the year of admission.
- The parental income shall not be more than Rs. 2.5 lakhs per year.
- The Caste and Income certificates shall be uploaded prior to the web counselling
- Students applying under this Scheme should not be covered under Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme of the Department
Also Read: Rupashree Prakalpa: Form, Benefits, Status, Eligibility
National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS):
- The admission in schools would be based on the merit as obtained in the nation-wide merit test the “National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS)
- The NETS would be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
- The test would be conducted all over the county
- The selected students would be offered choices of the SHRESHTA schools.
- For exercising this option, a web counselling system shall be developed by the NIC. In order to ensure that all the seats are filled there may be multiple rounds of web-counseling
Number of Seats
The tentative number of seats for fresh admissions for each year upto 2025- 26 would be as follows
| 9th Class | 11th Class | Total* | |
| 2023-24 | 1500 | 1500 | 3000 |
| 2024-25 | 1500 | 1500 | 3000 |
| 2025-26 | 1500 | 1500 | 3000 |
*In case it is observed that there are vacant slots in either of the categories of class 9th or class 11th, the same will be adjusted towards the other category if there is availability of more eligible students in that category.
Admission
- Once the school is selected by the student the school would automatically, and without any further test, admit the student.
- The fee for the student covering the school fee (including tuition fees etc.) and hostel fee (including mess charges) would be released directly to the schools by the Ministry within 30 days from the date of confirmation of admission on the IT portal.
- The school should provide hostel facilities for the students and provide necessary assistance for the students to settle down in the new environment.
- The school may designate one of the teachers as the Counsellor, who would resolve the difficulties faced, if any, by the students.
- The students admitted in Class 9 or I I, including the students admitted during the F.Y.2O2l-22, shall automatically be funded for the next classes till they complete l2th class, subject to their passing the exams of the previous class
Also Read: 5 Easy Steps To Check Beneficiary Status Of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme
Bridge Course
- To ensure that the SC students so admitted can catch up with the rest of the class, a Bridge Course may be conducted by the school covering the topics given in Annexure-l.
- The bridge course should be conducted outside-the-school-hours after identifying the individual academic requirements.
- An amount of upto 10%o of the annual fee can be provided separately under the scheme for this purpose.
- The bridge course can extend upto3 -months or as required by the student.
- Bridge course will target at enhancing the capability of the student to easily adopt to the environment of the school.
Scholarship for Students
I. The scholarships for the students will cover the School Fee (including tuition fee) and Hostel Fee (including mess charges) subject to a maximum limits as given below:-
| Class | Scholarship per student per annum (Rs) |
| 9 | 1,00,000 /- |
| 10 | 1,10,000 /- |
| 11 | 1,25,000 /- |
| 12 | 1,35,000 /- |
Note: The scholarships towards tuition fee and hostel fee will be disbursed as per actual charged by the school or the prescribed limit & t above table whichever is less. No fee or any other charges will be charged from the beneficiary by SERESHTA School.
II. The scholarships will be released in one installment directly to the account of the schools through online process using the e-Anudaan portal of the Ministry.
III. Release of the scholarship for the following years shall be subject to furnishing of Utilization Certificate as per GFR provisions.
Monitoring
- The progress of the students would be monitored by the Ministry from time to time.
- In case any student leaves after getting admitted into a school and payment of fee to the school, it should be brought to the notice of the Central Govt. immediately and fees paid should be refunded to the Consolidated Fund of India.
Official Sources and reference: Click Here