Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Location
All Over India except State of Tamil Nadu
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Pragyanam Brahma
Established	1986
Founder	Government of India
Grades	VI - XII
Number of students	2,41,648 as of March 31, 2015[1]
Campus type	Rural
Affiliation	CBSE
Information	660 Sanctioned Schools; 589 functional schools
Website	www.nvshq.org

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) are a system of alternate schools for gifted students in India. They are run by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, New Delhi, an autonomous organization under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. JNVs are fully residential and co-educational schools affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, with classes from VI to XII standard. JNVs are specifically tasked with finding talented children in rural areas of India and providing them with an education equivalent to the best residential school system, without regard to their family's socio-economic condition.^[1]

The Navodaya Vidyalaya System is a unique experiment unparalleled in the annals of school education in India and elsewhere. Its significance lies in the selection of talented rural children as the target group and the attempt to provide them with quality education comparable to the best in a residential school system. Such children are found in all sections of society, and in all areas including the most backward.

JNVs exist all over India, with the exception of Tamil Nadu, where anti Hindi movements were widespread during past times.^[2] There are 589 functional schools and 660 sanctioned schools.^[3]

History

The idea of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas was conceived by former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.^[4][5] The concept of opening Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya(JNV) in every district of India was born as a part of National Policy on Education, 1986 with an aim of providing excellence coupled with social justice.^[6] Subsqeuntly Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti(NVS) was registered as a Society, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.^[6] As per policy of the Government, one JNV was to be established in each district of country. To start with, two Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas were established during 1985–86, at Jhajjar (Haryana) and Amravati (Maharashtra).^[6] As of 2015-16 academic session, JNVs have been sanctioned for 576 districts. In addition, 10 JNVs have been sanctioned in districts having large population of ST population and 10 JNVs in districts having large concentration of SC population and 2 special JNVs in Manipur bringing total number of sanctioned JNVs to 598.^[7] Out of these 591 JNVs are functional.^[3] In November 2016, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved opening of one JNV in each of the 62 uncovered districts.^[3] That will bring total number of JNVs to 660 once operational.

Organisational Structure

Navodaya Vidyalayas are run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education and Literacy, Govt. of India. The Chairman of the Samiti is the Minister of Human Resource Development.^[8][9]

The Samiti functions through the Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of HRD. The Executive Committee is responsible for the management of all affairs including allocation of funds to the Samiti and has the authority to exercise all powers of Samiti. It is assisted by two Sub-Committees i.e. Finance Committee and Academic Advisory Committee, in its functions.^[9] The executive head of the administrative pyramid is the Commissioner who executes the policies laid down by the Samiti's Executive Committee. He/she is assisted at the Headquarters level by Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners. The Samiti has established 8 Regional Offices for the administration and monitoring of Navodaya Vidyalayas under their jurisdiction. The Regional Offices are headed by a Deputy Commissioner and also had Assistant Commissioners.^[9]

For each JNV, there is a Vidyalaya Advisory Committee for assistance on matters of academics, infrastructure and other general activities and a Vidyalaya Management Committee for budget preparation, selection of ad-hoc teachers and proper functioning of school.^[8] Normally District Collector of the concerned district is the ex-officio Chairman of school level Committees with local educationists, public representatives and officers from the District as members. Some schools also have Vidhyalaya Coordination Committee for looking after performance of academics.^[8][9]

List of Schools

At present, there are 598 functional residential schools, which are administrated, according to following table, by eight regional offices located at Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hydarabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Pune & Shillong with jurisdiction over different states and UTs.^[9]

Admission

Admission to Class VI of the JNVs requires qualification in the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test(JNVST), an entrance exam designed, developed and conducted by the CBSE.^[10][11] JNVST for Class VI is conducted annually throughout the country to select 80 most meritorious students for each JNV. It is conducted in three phases in a year depending upon session structure in specific State or Union Territory.^[11][10] Candidates can apply for the test only once during their Class V.^[10] Competition in entrance exam can be gauged from fact that in JNVST 2015, total 1,878.15 thousand students appeared and 41.48 thousand students were selected(i.e. approx 2% pass percentage)^[11][10] The test encompasses Mental ability skills, Mathematics, and Regional language. The schools provide reservation as per NVS Policy which encompasses reservation for ST and SC (but not OBC),^[12] at least 75% selection of students from rural areas, maximum 25% from urban areas, fixed 33% to girl students and 3% for disabled candidates.^[10]

To compensate attrition and optimally utilize seats, JNVST, developed by CBSE, is also conducted for admission to Class IX^[11][10] and lateral admissions, based on merit in Class X, are made for Class XI.^[10]

Campus of JNVs

These campuses are usually located in hinterlands possibly to provide serene environment and due to unavailability of land near urban centers. Norms stipulate approx 30 acres (12.14 hectares) land for each school to be provided free of cost by State Government. Normally a school has academic block, residential blocks, play grounds and Rajiv Smriti Van. Academic block consisting of classrooms, library, laboratories, computer center and convention halls. Residential buildings are provided for students(usually separate hostels for boys and girls), faculty, and staff. Rajiv Smriti Van, in memory of former Prime Minister of India, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, is an integral part of all NVS campuses.^[13]

• 
  Academic block at a JNV
• 
  A basketball court at a JNV
• 
  A hostel at a JNV
• 
  A playground at a JNV

Academics at JNVs

JNV have classes from VI to XII standard. A particular JNV usually provides two stream among Science, Arts and Commerce for Class XI and XII. JNVs are known for their academic excellence,^[14] which can be contributed to their merit based entrance test and unique climate provided to otherwise disadvantaged children,^[15] and which is further proved by their performance at board examinations. More than half of JNVs have been equipped with Smart Classes. These schools regularly organize science congress and exhibitions to promote research mindset.^[16]

Three Language Formula

To facilitate migration every JNV teaches three languages in class VI to Class IX.^[17] These languages are grouped into A Level and B-I and B-II Level. The pattern followed in different categories of states is as shown in the table below. However, CBSE mandates for children to study two languages only. Therefore students of each category of states appear for A Level and B-I level languages at CBSE examinations.^[17]

Board Results

JNVs has consistently produced best results in CBSE Board Examinations over the years.^[18] In 2015-16 results, JNVs had a pass percentage of, 98.87% in Class X board exams^[19] and 96.73% in Class XII board exams.^[20] The pass percentage for JNVs has been higher than independent private schools, government schools and even Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Science Congress and Exhibitions

Annual Science Congress is organized annually in collaboration with research institutes and institutes of national importance at regional level. Exhibitions are organized at school, cluster, regional and national level for physics, chemistry and maths.

Smart Classes

Navodaya Vidyalayas in collaboration with Samsung India has setup smart classes in 373 JNVs since 2013 upto 2016 end.^[21] Typically a Smart Class is equipped with an interactive Smartboard, laptops/tablets, Wi-Fi connectivity and power backup. Smart Class supplements regular lessons in mathematics, science social science, English, Hindi to explain concepts in an engaging and interactive manner. Teachers are trained to use the equipment effectively.^[22]

Social and Cultural Life at JNVs

Social milieu of JNVs is defined by mingling of various sections of society from various regions of India since these schools follow affirmative action policy and has policy for migration from different linguistic regions. Teachers, chosen from across the country, live in same campus and interact with students on 24X7 basis leading to familial feeling.^[23] The life of a Navodiyan is enriched by extracurricular activity like sports, cultural activities and activities of youth organizations.

Migration

One of the important features of the JNV scheme is the Migration Programme wherein two linked JNVs of different linguistic categories exchange students between them i.e. if school A and school B are linked schools, then schools A will send its student to school B and school B will send its students to school A.^[15] The aim of the exchange program is to "promote national integration and enrich social content".^[17] According to the scheme, selected 30% of Class IX students are exchanged between two linked JNVs of different linguistic categories (generally between Hindi Speaking and Non-Hindi Speaking States) for one year. During migration period the three languages being taught to migrated students remain the same as in their parent JNV, but social and cultural exchange is facilitated by their language learning in Class VI to IX.^[17] Initially migration was envisaged for students from Class IX to Class XII and reduced to two years (Class IX and Class X) in 1991-92. Finally in 1996-97 it was confined to only Class IX students.^[17]

Sports

JNVs give great emphasis to sports. The daily schedule allots at least two hours a day toward sports and other play activities. Each JNV provides facilities for handball, football, volleyball, basketball, kho-kho, badminton, kabaddi, hockey, and cricket. The campuses also provide a gymnasium and multi-purpose halls for indoor games like table tennis, chess etc. Inter-school competitions are also yearly once at cluster, regional, national, and SGFI (School Games Federation of India) level.

Cultural Activities

Cultural activities are part of JNV framework. Every school is provided with a Music room and Arts room. Inter-school competitions for dance, drama, debates, literature etc are yearly held at cluster, regional and national level.

Scouting & Guiding, NCC and NSS

Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti is recognised as a state for Scouting and Guiding activities by the Bharat Scouts and Guides(BSG). Navodaya students regularly and actively participate in programmes of BSG. NCC is being introduced in JNVs in a phased manner.^[24] Similarly National Service Scheme(NSS) is being introduced in JNVs phased manner.

Emulation of the Navodaya Vidyalaya System

Emulating the concept of residential schools for talented children, Odisha State plans to setup one Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya(OAV) (literally Odisha Model School) at each of 314 block headquarters.^[25] 100 schools has already been launched.^[26] These Adarsha Vidyalayas would be CBSE affiliated fully residential schools, provide free of education, and target talented students through an annual entrance examination. These would have Class VI through Class XII and each class would have 80 number of students. These schools would be administered through Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan, a society registered under Society Registration Act of Odisha.^[27]

Notable Alumni

While Navodaya Vidyalaya's has started functioning recently they have produced alumni in almost every field including engineers,^[28] doctors, civil servants^[29] and entrepreneurs.^[30][31] Though schooling seldom directly leads to these success stories but Navodaya Vidyalayas has played critical role in their success considering their backward background.^[32]

Notable alumni include:

• Surendra Poonia is an international award-winning sportsman and Limca book record holder

See also

• Kendriya Vidyalayas, another chain of CBSE schools under MHRD, Government of India.
• Ministry of Human Resource Development(MHRD), Government of India.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.

• NVS Official Website
• All India Navodaya Alumni Association
• JNV Foundation
• All India JNV Alumni Committee Website
• JNV Rajgir

ref>"Evaluation Study on Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti(Ch-6)" (PDF). pp. 26–35. Retrieved March 17, 2017.