Panel to review PPP mode of schools

Recently, the Gujarat State Government has announced for a 10-member panel to resolve ‘differences’ over the proposed PPP mode of schools.

• Aim:
  • The State government has formed the panel to resolve the concerns of various school management and teachers’ bodies against the four new schemes of schools announced by the education department on public private partnership (PPP) mode.
• The move came after a representation of around 40 members of various state-level associations of schools, teachers and principals met to voice their concerns for the proposal of inclusion of private player’s collaboration.

The PPP proposal:

• The education department of the State has proposed four different types of schools from Class 6 onwards in the upcoming academic session of 2023-24:
  • Gyan Setu Day Schools,
  • Gyan Setu Residential School,
  • Gyan Shakti Residential Schools and
  • Raksha Shakti Residential Schools
• Land grants:
  • Land may be procured by the private entity on its own. However, the State Government will be requested to assist the private entity in securing the required land.
  • The state governments will also be requested by the Central Government to make available required land on lease basis to private entity wherever possible subject to the condition that the lease period should be for a minimum period of 25 years.
• Affiliation to the Board:
  • The schools will be affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
  • In exceptional circumstances, affiliation by other national Boards may also be considered.
• Role of State Government:
  • The State Government would facilitate availability of land for the school.
  • It may also consider providing financial support beyond the initial 10 year period which is committed by the Central Government.
  • It would also be requested to provide uniforms, textbooks and mid-day meals as applicable in government schools.
  • The State Government may also consider providing transport subsidy or free transport for students to come from different parts of the blocks to the school and back.

Need for such a move:

• These schools will provide coaching for competitive entrance exams such as JEE, NEET and NDA.
• They will be in multiple mediums and will use the latest education techniques and technology.

Estimated Benefits:

Some of the reasons for adopting the PPP approach for setting up model schools are as follows:

• Possibility of setting up much larger number of schools than what the public outlay can support, through contribution to capital expenditure from private partners;
• Functional efficiency of private entities enabling early delivery of quality education;
• Risk of project completion and delivery of agreed outputs will be borne by the private entity;
• Public funds would be expended only upon delivery of agreed outcomes; and
• Private sector efficiency in the context of a long-term agreement is expected to optimize on life-cycle costs and improve on quality of education, including the school infrastructure.