SHRESHTA Schedule 2024-25: Objective, Eligibility, Scholarship, Admission, Schools

Introduction:

Providing quality education to every child, regardless of their background, is a Constitutional mandate in India. For decades, students from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, who have been historically marginalized, were denied access to quality education. This exclusion perpetuated a cycle of disadvantage across generations.

The government’s efforts to expand educational access have made significant progress, achieving near-universal access to primary education. However, the goal of providing quality education that ensures a level playing field is still a challenge. To bridge this gap, the Government of India has introduced the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA).

Objective of SHRESHTA:

• The primary aim of the SHRESHTA scheme is to enhance the reach of government development interventions in education, particularly in SC-dominated areas that lack adequate services.
• The scheme seeks to offer high-quality education through grant-in-aid institutions and residential high schools, focusing on the socio-economic upliftment and overall development of SC students

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Key Features of SHRESHTA

Selection of Schools

• The best performing private residential schools are identified based on their track record, including a minimum of 75% pass percentage in the last three years for Class 10 and 12 exams.
• Schools must have been operational for at least five years and possess the necessary infrastructure to accommodate additional SC students in Classes 9 and 11.
• The selection of schools will be finalized by a committee chaired by the Joint Secretary in charge of the scheme, along with representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Director of the Internal Finance Division.

Eligibility Criteria For Students

• Students under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme are not eligible.
• Eligible SC students studying in recognized schools, whether private, government, or local body schools, can apply.
• For Class 9 admission, students must have passed Class 8 in the previous academic year, and for Class 11 admission, they must have passed Class 10.
• Parental income should not exceed ₹2.5 lakhs per annum, and caste and income certificates must be submitted during the application process.

National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS)

• Admissions are based on merit obtained in the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• The test is held nationwide, and selected students are provided with options for SHRESHTA schools through a web counseling system.

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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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Number of Seats For 2025-26

The tentative number of seats for fresh admissions for each year up to 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 Guidelines For SHRESTHA

1. Once the school is selected by the student through web counseling the school would automatically, and without any further test, admit the student.
2. 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.
3. The school should provide hostel facilities for the students and provide necessary assistance for the students to settle down in the new environment.
4. The school may designate one of the teachers as the Counsellor, who would resolve the difficulties faced, if any, by the students.
5. 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

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Bridge Course

1. 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.
2. The bridge course should be conducted outside-the-school-hours after identifying the individual academic requirements.
3. An amount of upto 10%o of the annual fee can be provided separately under the scheme for this purpose.
4. The bridge course can extend upto3 -months or as required by the student.
5. Bridge course will target at enhancing the capability of the student to easily adopt to the environment of the school.

SHRESTHA 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

1. The progress of the students would be monitored by the Ministry from time to time.
2. 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