First in state: Sainik School in PPP mode

Kochi: The state’s first Sainik School, in public-private partnership (PPP) mode, was inaugurated by Union minister of state for defence and tourism Ajay Bhatt in Kozhikode on Saturday. Vedavyasa Vidyalayam Senior Secondary School, Kozhikode, is one of the 18 Sainik schools set up in partnership mode in the country.

The first batch has 50 students, including 33 boys and 17 girls. The Sainik school system was established in the 1960s to groom students as responsible and disciplined citizens of the country. Over time, 33 Sainik Schools were set up in different districts of states/UTs.

In October 2021, the Centre approved the setting up of 100 new Sainik schools in partnership with NGO/private schools/state governments.

The objective is to provide quality education to students in tune with National Education Policy and give them better career opportunities, including joining the armed forces.

Institutions ideal for setting up Sainik schools were selected through a slew of processes like online registration of applications, evaluation by district-level evaluation committees headed by district collectors and subsequent scrutiny by Sainik Schools Society (SSS) before consideration of approval committee at central government level for recommendation of approval.