Pune: State Government Revises Sainik School Policy to Boost NDA Selection, Hikes Fees After 20 Years

Pune, October 28, 2024: The Maharashtra School Education Department has revised its policy for aided Sainik schools, aiming to increase the selection of students for the National Defence Academy (NDA). As part of the overhaul, the annual fees for Sainik schools in the state have been increased to ₹50,000, a first revision in nearly 20 years.

The government’s decision to implement the new policy was released on October 9, just before the model code of conduct came into effect. Maharashtra currently has 38 aided Sainik schools, but the number of students making it to the NDA from these schools has remained disappointingly low. The updated policy aims to change this, focusing on curriculum reform, fee hikes, and stricter NDA exam requirements.

The revised policy includes a mandatory shift to English-medium education in all Sainik schools, aligning their syllabus with that of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as it is more compatible with NDA and other competitive exams. The new CBSE-based curriculum will be rolled out in the academic year 2025-26 through the State Educational Research and Training Council.

Previously, the fees for these Sainik schools were set at ₹15,000 annually in 2002-03. However, with inflation and rising operational costs, the government has now approved a hike to ₹50,000 per year. The Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2011, will continue to apply, ensuring that the fee structure remains regulated.

In a significant policy shift, all Class 12 students, both male and female, attending Sainik schools will now be required to take the NDA entrance exam. The responsibility to ensure this falls on the school commissioners. Schools are expected to prepare students rigorously for this exam, and those that fail to meet the selection criteria may face downgrading to general aided schools. The government has also warned that land allocated to such schools could be repossessed.

Since the NDA began admitting female candidates in 2021-22, the state has decided to introduce co-education in its Sainik schools. The student intake will be capped at 35 students for classes 6 to 8, 40 for classes 9 to 10, and 45 for classes 11 to 12.

Various modernization initiatives are also set to be implemented, including the provision of free uniforms, the development of modern laboratories, ICT and computer labs, enhanced sports infrastructure, and updated libraries. Other activities like hackathons and special programs for skill development will be introduced to make these schools more competitive and aligned with the nation’s defence needs.