‘Heritage schools’ to be revived

NEW DELHI - The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has taken up a programme for revival of schools set up by eminent educational thinkers across the country during the freedom struggle.

Terming these as heritage schools, the NCERT will restore them to carry forward the ideologies behind these institutions.

“During the freedom struggle, eminent educational thinkers in different parts of the country had started a number of innovative schools,” Minister of State in the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry D. Purandeswari said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

“Many such schools are languishing due to unsustainability of innovative ideas and ethos marked by a persistent pressure to conform and lack of financial resources,” he added.

These schools will be selected from among those founded during the Indian freedom movement inspired by nationalist educational philosophy, “representing a heritage of innovating pedagogy, having innovating learning material using local knowledge, inculcating dignity of labour”.

The criteria also includes the schools to be attempting all-round development of personalities, engaging actively with local community and instilling values of democratic participation.

“The selected heritage schools were provided academic and financial support and the impact was monitored periodically,” the minister said.

According to the HRD ministry, five heritage schools were supported with financial assistance of Rs.2 lakh each during 2007-08.