The new KVs will have Balvatikas, i.e., three years of foundational stage (pre-primary), as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Wednesday, approved the opening of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) under the civil sector across the country, with an estimated outlay of Rs 5862.55 crore over nine years.
Briefing newspersons on the decisions of the Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said the decision aims to facilitate the educational needs of the wards of Central Government employees and promote quality education in underserved regions.
The new KVs will have Balvatikas, i.e., three years of foundational stage (pre-primary), as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Twenty KVs will be opened in districts with no existing KV, 14 in Aspirational districts, 4 in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) districts, and 5 in the North Eastern Region (NER)/Hilly areas.
The new KVs will benefit approximately 86,640 students and create 4,617 direct permanent employment opportunities.
Construction and allied activities will generate additional employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers.
Kendriya Vidyalayas were established in 1962 to provide uniform quality education to children of Central Government employees. Currently, there are 1,288 functional KVs, including three abroad. The new KVs will further strengthen the network and promote inclusivity and national integration.
The KVs are some of the most sought-after schools, due to their quality teaching, innovative pedagogy, and up-to-date infrastructure. There has been a continuous increase in the number of students applying for admission to Balvatika/Class I in KVs every year, and the performance of the students of the KVs in the board examinations conducted by CBSE has consistently been the best among all educational systems.
With KVs as model schools, the proposal ensures that quality education will spread in states that were under or not represented in the earlier sanctions of the Government of India, while also reinforcing coverage in high-demand areas having a significant number of Central Government employees, in aspirational districts, and extending the KVS network to geographically challenging and socially critical areas.