Spanking new buildings, smart classrooms, activity rooms, a mobile app to help parents monitor children on CCTV, and a happiness curriculum in which students meditate, exercise and are taught moral values. Schools run by the Delhi government are giving elite schools in the capital a run for their money. The Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Kanya Vidyalaya in West Vinod Nagar even has a swimming pool, the first in a government school.

All this without exorbitant fees or donations. Education is free and comes with mid-day meals till Class VIII. Students in Classes IX to XII have to pay ₹20 every month.

Three schools from Delhi have made it to the nationwide list of top 12 government schools

No wonder then that students are loath to miss a single day of school. Parents are happy with how the children are faring. Teachers have been trained to make learning attractive, and their emphasis is to make learning an aspect of life. Girl students, especially, have done exceedingly well in the Board exams. The schools now make accountability and transparency a priority.

With private schools charging hefty fees, the accessible and good education now available in Delhi’s government schools is making a difference. There’s a rush when admissions open, and parents queue up eagerly. The Delhi initiative has set the bar high for other States.

(Text and images by R.V. Moorthy)