Empty Schools, Waiting Students
On November 3, 2026, reports from The Print detailed the situation at many Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Jharkhand. These schools, designed to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe children in remote areas, remain largely empty, with classrooms and facilities unused due to a lack of students and teachers.
Construction and Readiness
The Eklavya Model Residential School in Ranchi’s Chanho block is a prime example. According to The Print, the campus, spanning 15 acres, includes spacious classrooms, hostels, and laboratories. However, as of late October 2026, the school is without students and teachers. Dust covers the benches, and windows are broken.
Staffing Challenges
Satyam Ojha, the principal who joined in September, is currently focused on admissions. He is seeking teachers from the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), the body overseeing the Eklavya program. Tribal Welfare Commissioner Kuldeep Chaudhary stated that staff recruitment is underway, with ad-hoc teachers employed until the final recruitment process is complete. NESTS aims to deploy 7,267 teachers after final training, having expanded since 2023.
Admission Delays and Waiting Students
Twelve-year-old Anushka Kumari secured a seat at the Chanho school through an entrance examination but was not initially selected. She was later admitted onto the waiting list and now has a place, but the school is not yet operational. Similarly, thirteen-year-old Sunila Oraon hopes to attend but currently only encounters the school’s security guard. A government-school teacher, Neeraj, is assisting students who did not take the entrance exam, writing to the principal for an opportunity to study there.
Infrastructure Issues
The campus in Chanho faces logistical challenges, including uneven access roads and elevated, rocky ground. Applications for water and electricity connections have been submitted, with funds for water released only last month. The school cannot begin classes until these basic services are in place.
Community Impact
Local residents, such as Sunila Kumari, express disappointment that the school’s opening will not immediately bring employment opportunities. The Eklavya schools were intended to provide educational opportunities and access to higher education for tribal children, a goal that remains largely unrealized due to the current delays.
Source: ThePrint. Featured image credit: ThePrint.
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