The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released guidelines for Residential Private Schools seeking to be part of the 2023-24 Scheme for Residential Education for Meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) Students (SHRESHTA). This initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) of the Government of India, aims to support Scheduled Caste students.
As per the official notice, eligible schools must be private residential institutions affiliated with CBSE up to class 12, operational for a minimum of 5 years, and maintain a pass percentage of 75 or higher in class 10 and 12 over the past 3 years. These schools should have adequate infrastructure to accommodate at least 10 additional SC students in a combined setting of classes 9 and 11, with residential status verified through OASIS data.
CBSE has instructed schools to adhere to the specified criteria when expressing their interest in the scheme. Schools wishing to participate can directly submit their consent to the department. Upon approval, schools are required to accept the assigned students. Any queries regarding selection, funding, or allocation can be addressed directly to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
CBSE stressed the importance of schools thoroughly understanding the scheme by reviewing the official document, which outlines details such as maximum scholarship amounts, seat availability, school obligations, and eligibility criteria. Selected schools must display admission statistics on their websites, categorized by year and grade. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, with information provided by CBSE, selects schools to participate.
Enrollment under the scheme is specifically for students entering Class 9 and Class 11. CBSE revealed that the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), annually selects 3,000 students for the scheme. Allocation to schools is determined through web counseling based on merit and student preferences.