In future these schools will produce doctors, engineers, scientists, just like Babasaheb dreamt: CM Arvind Kejriwal
Babasaheb envisioned an India where every child gets excellent education so the country can progress; we are fulfilling his vision in Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal
Indians got two contrasting education systems after independence — private schools for the rich & government schools for the poor: CM Arvind Kejriwal
Government schools were deliberately ruined for 75 years: CM Arvind Kejriwal
With the support of the people we transformed Delhi’s government schools in just 5 years: CM Arvind Kejriwal
Politicians have started talking about schools now; parties competing to call their schools better: CM Arvind Kejriwal
I welcome leaders from the opposition to come and find shortcomings in our schools; we won’t criticise them but improve our schools: CM Arvind Kejriwal
This country’s political narrative is shifting towards health and education: CM Arvind Kejriwal
CM Arvind Kejriwal sees every facet of education in line with Babasaheb’s vision so that children can be given excellent education to build the nation better: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
We are proud that we are fulfilling Babasaheb’s vision through our mindset curriculum: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
NEW DELHI:
All of Delhi’s Schools of Specialised Excellence will now be called ‘Dr BR Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Excellence, informed Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal while paying homage to the brain behind India’s constitution on his birth anniversary. He stated — In future these schools will produce doctors, engineers, scientists, just like Babasaheb dreamt. Babasaheb envisioned an India where every child gets excellent education so the country can progress; we are fulfilling his vision in Delhi. Indians got two contrasting education systems after independence — private schools for the rich & government schools for the poor. Government schools were deliberately ruined for 75 years. With the support of the people we transformed Delhi’s government schools in just 5 years. Politicians have started talking about schools now; parties competing to call their schools better. I welcome leaders from the opposition to come and find shortcomings in our schools; we won’t criticise them but improve our schools. This country’s political narrative is shifting towards health and education. While Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodia said — CM Arvind Kejriwal sees every facet of education in line with Babasaheb’s vision so that children can be given excellent education to build the nation better. We are proud that we are fulfilling Babasaheb’s vision through our mindset curriculum.
Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal presided over a function organised at the School of Specialised Excellence, Khichripur, Delhi and unveiled a stone plaque dedicating all the 30 Schools of Specialised Excellence in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Till now these schools were known as Schools of Specialised Excellence, but now they will be called Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Excellence. The school students welcomed CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal & Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Shri Manish Sisodia by presenting Navankur. Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Shri Manish Sisodia began the program by lighting the lamp. MLA Ms Atishi, Delhi Education Director Shri Himanshu Gupta and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “We always celebrate Babasaheb’s Jayanti with full joy and enthusiasm but today we have gone a notch ahead of all our works. The most spectacular government schools of Delhi are being named after Dr Ambedkar today. There are 30 such schools which will now be called ‘Dr BR Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Excellence’. There can’t be a better way to commemorate his legacy. I am certain his soul would be very happy and blessing us from the heavens today.”
He continued, “Babasaheb gave the highest importance to education in his life. His community faced discrimination and were considered untouchables. His family had barely anything to survive on. The school he went to made him sit separately outside the class. He wasn’t allowed to drink water from the vessel unless a peon poured it towards him from a distance. The same man who faced these sufferings, not just went abroad, but got PhDs from London School of Economics and Columbia University. In 1913-14 he took admission in Columbia University. There was no internet, no mode of gathering information. I often wonder how he’d have managed to get hold of the forms of admission to the university. It just amazes me that with all the difficulties he faced, how did he get to know of Columbia, and how he admitted himself there. After getting a PhD from Columbia, he went to London School of Economics to get a PhD from there as well. Despite all the facilities and riches of life that we have been bestowed with today, the ease of the internet, if our children today want to get admission in the London School of Economics it is no easy task. I consider him the greatest sapoot of this soil.”
The CM continued, “Babasaheb had a dream that every child in this country, whether rich or poor, must receive a good quality of education. He had to endure a lot of troubles in his path to getting a good education. He wanted that no child should have to undergo such hurdles to get educated in an independent India, no matter what the background – rich or poor, it is the right of every child to obtain the best form of education. However, even 75 years after independence, the politicians have not been able to fulfil Babasaheb’s dream. There are two systems of education in this country, private for the rich, public for the poor. We came to power with a motive to change the system. A lot of people suggested that we mandate public education for the children of officers and ministers to change the system. We did not do that. We did not want the system to change for the sake of someone. We wanted to transform it equally for everyone. We made government schools so spectacular that they all would be compelled to send their children there.”
He further said, “We did not expect to change the system so quickly. It took us only 5 years. We thought it would take much longer because these leaders could not do it in 75 years. Teachers, parents, principals, officers supported our cause to the best of their ability and everyone can see the change we have inflicted today. Today many of our MLAs and lawyers send their children to government schools voluntarily. This year 3.75 lac children shifted to government schools from private schools. I am delighted to see Babasaheb’s dreams be fulfilled like this today.”
The CM concluded, “I am extremely happy that the state of politics in the country too has changed because of us. Politicians have been forced to talk about schools instead of abusive politics and hooliganism. A competition of sorts has taken place for the quality of schools in the country. We label our schools as the best, the opposition comes to try to debate that instead of their hate politics. We go to Haryana, Gujarat and expose the drastic state of schools there, the ruling party comes to defend it. This is a great precedent. I have seen how opposition’s MPs have been trying to find shortcomings in our schools. One MP could find only a cracked tile in one school. One said there’s a wall without whitewash. I didn’t laugh or criticise them. I ordered the repairs to be made immediately. I welcome such politics. I welcome all these people to our schools to help us make them even better than they are. On the contrary, when Manish Sisodia ji went to Gujarat to see their schools, he was arrested by the government. I don’t understand why they did not seek our cooperation. But I’m happy that in the larger view, politics is shifting towards health and education and that’s a huge achievement.”
Shri Kejriwal took to Twitter to share the news and wrote, “All the Schools of Specialized Excellence in Delhi have been named after Babasaheb Ambedkar from today. In the future, after studying from these schools, Delhi’s children will become doctors, engineers, and scientists. This was a dream Babasaheb saw. I am glad that we are taking his dreams towards fulfilment.”
At the same time, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia said, “today, on this great occasion, the Delhi Government is dedicating the country’s most prestigious government schools to Babasaheb and his thoughts and philosophy. The Schools of Specialised Excellence, which are being dedicated to Babasaheb today, are a result of the political ideology of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. The Chief Minister believes that children from any section of the society, whether financially capable or economically-socially backward, should all get access to excellent quality education. Following the vision of Babasaheb, all the government schools in Delhi were revolutionised and if anyone, nationally or internationally, today wants to witness the peak quality of government schools, it would be Delhi Government’s BR Ambedkar Schools of Specialized Excellence. This revolution has only been possible in Delhi’s public education because Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal views every dimension of education in line with Babasaheb’s dream to provide quality education to all the children of the society and build the nation.”
Shri Sisodia recalled Baba Saheb’s words that being educated does not mean everything; Along with being educated, it is also necessary for a human being to become modest. “Babasaheb had said that education is not a means to earn a livelihood but it has an important role in social and nation building. The Kejriwal Government is proud to fulfil this vision of Babasaheb with the Mindset Curriculums introduced in schools of Delhi, he added.
Faces of children blossomed after meeting the Chief Minister
After welcoming Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodia and other dignitaries, the children studying in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Specialised Excellence knew no bounds of happiness. Their faces blossomed after meeting CM Arvind Kejriwal. These children met CM Arvind Kejriwal for the first time today. Shri Arvind Kejriwal went among the children and talked to them and got to know their experiences. Children eloquently told him about the school and shared their experiences. The CM in turn encouraged the children to study diligently and fulfil the dreams of their parents.
What are Schools of Specialised Excellence?
Delhi government set-up Schools of Specialised Excellence through a cabinet resolution dated 22nd March 2021. 20 schools were established in 2021-22 enrolling nearly 2,300 students. 11 more have been added in 2022-23, totalling the number of Schools of Specialised Excellence to 31, which are spread across different parts of Delhi. Out of these 31 schools, one school – ‘Armed Force Preparatory School’ has been named as ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Armed Force Preparatory Schools.’ Now, on 12th April 2022, the State Naming Authority of Delhi Government approved the names of remaining 30 Schools of Specialised Excellence to be ‘Dr. B R Ambedkar School of Specialised Excellence’.
SoSEs have been set up by Delhi Government in partnership with International Baccalaureate
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Excellence are choice-based schools for grades 9-12 that provide specialised education based on aptitude and interest of children. These schools are affiliated to Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) setup by Delhi Government in partnership with International Baccalaureate. IB is a globally renowned school education board. These 30 Schools, named after Dr. B R Ambedkar have four domains of specialisation: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Humanities, Performing and Visual Arts, High-End 21st Century Skills. Students are provided foundational Education in language, mathematics, science and social science and rigorous specialised education based on their domain For example, in Performing and Visual Arts schools, students are not just taught the artistic skills in the Visual Arts domain, they are being trained to become graphics designers and animation artists.
Delhi Government has partnered with several world-renowned institutions to develop a cutting-edge curriculum
Delhi Government has partnered with several world-renowned institutions to develop a cutting-edge curriculum, design new-age assessments and provide skilled trainers in these schools. Some of the organisations include: IIT Delhi, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, NIFT Delhi, National School of Drama, Global Music Institute, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Vidyamandir Classes. Students are also provided with masterclasses, workshops, and guest lectures from eminent industry professionals, along with field trips to industry locations. Different innovative experiments have been taken up in these schools like digital tablet-based assessments, teaching-learning through Chromebooks, etc
Admission process for the academic year 2022-23 started in February. Close to 61,000 applications were received for approximately 4,600 seats across 30 schools.