Model schools under PPP mode to roll out from 2015-16: HRD minister

NEW DELHI: In the works for more than five years, the first tentative steps for setting up 2,500 model secondary schools in the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode was taken on Saturday.
After a meeting of Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, HRD minister MM PallamRaju and various private entities, it was decided to make operational, at least 50 schools on pilot basis across 41 non-educationally backward blocks in nine states."It is being put on pilot because this is the first time schools are being set up under PPP. Shortlisting of 65 entities has been done. They have been issued request for qualification (RFQ). Now they can bid," school secretary R Bhattacharya said, adding that the second phase would be for PPP schools in around 500 blocks.
Though Raju said schools would be operational from the 2015-16 academic session, many of the stakeholders representing big corporate houses like ITC, Bharati and Educomp said they would be in a position to start schools from next academic session. Private players will invest in land, building and manage the school. Minimum 40% of children in these schools would not be charged any fee. The Centre would pay operation cost for teaching these students. The operation cost would be same as what the Centre spends on each child in Kendriya Vidyalayas. The Centre spends Rs 21,000 annually on each child of KVS.
The finalized model concessional agreement (MCA) is to set up 2,500 model schools under PPP mode across the country. MCA would now be placed before the inter-ministerial committee headed by secretary education, on July 31, for approval. After the committee's approval, government would seek request for proposals (RFPs) to set up model schools.
The government has shortlisted 65 applicants for these 41 blocks on the basis of request for qualifications furnished by the private players. These 41 blocks are in nine states, including Andhra Pradesh (1), Haryana (13), Rajasthan (11), Madhya Pradesh (6), Punjab (3), Uttar Pradesh (2), Karnataka (2), Gujarat (1) and Maharashtra (1).