Ficci, Andhra partner to launch rural public schools

In a first-of-its-kind public-private initiative in education, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has come forward to partner the rural public school concept mooted by Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

The state government would be organising a meeting with industrialists in the next 20 days to finalise the details as suggested at the Ficci's national executive committee meeting held here on Friday.

Under the concept, the state government would provide 50 acres of land free of cost besides subsidising the recurring expenditure to the extent of 50 per cent of each such school having classes from VI to XII.

On their part, the industrialists will have to invest Rs 10-12 crore in each school besides incurring 25 per cent of the recurring expenditure while meeting the remaining through fee collected from students.

These schools are meant to provide high standard teaching in English medium to rural students to bring them on par with their counterparts in private corporate schools.

The government has proposed to promote such schools in all the 23 districts of the state. Though the idea was doing the rounds for quite some time, the government could not proceed further as the initial funding was an issue.

While Habil Korakiwala, president, Ficci, had proposed to take up five schools on a pilot basis, the chief minister insisted for a much bigger number leading to broad base participation from local industry.

Korakiwala said they had no issues in following the reservation norms in these schools as they are promoted by the government.

"But any attempt to impose a similar system in the private sector would lead to the division in industry," he cautioned.