Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Ernakulam

Coordinates: 10°03′12″N 76°46′34″E / 10.05333°N 76.77611°E / 10.05333; 76.77611 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Ernakulam is a part of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Family in India. It is located in Neriamangalam near Kothamangalam, Kerala about 60 kilometres from Kochi/Cochin.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are Indian schools for talented children. They form a part of the system of gifted education. The objectives of the scheme were to provide good quality modern education to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas, without regard to their family's socio-economic condition.

The school was opened on January 1987. There are approximately 557 JNVs across India as of now and it is one of them. It offers free education to all students who get selected through the admission process which includes an All India Entrance Exam, held at district level. It comes under the Hyderabad region of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

Admission procedure

Talented students from Ernakulam district are selected through an entrance Exam conducted each year by CBSE and are given admission to VIth standard/class in the school. The test is largely non-verbal and objective in nature and is designed to prevent any disadvantage to children from rural areas. Now admissions are also taken in Class IX and XI. This "Lateral Entry" system of giving admission in other classes than VIth is devised to fill the vacancies that arise due to withdrawal of admissions of the children who are admitted in class VI.^[1]

Reservation

Seats are reserved for the children of rural areas. At least 75% of the seats of district are filled by candidates selected from rural areas and the remaining seats are filled from the district's urban areas.^[2] Reservation of seats in favour of children belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is also provided in proportion to their population in the concerned district.^[2] These reservations are interchangeable and over and above the candidates selected under open merit. Efforts are made to ensure that one-third of the total seats are filled by girls.

Fees

Education in the school is free including boarding, lodging, uniforms and textbooks. However, a nominal fee of Rs.200/- per month is collected from the children from IX to XII class. Children belonging to SC/ST, girls, the physically handicapped and those from families whose income is below the poverty line are exempt from payment of fees. Other expenses are borne by the government.

Student life

Academics

All subjects, with the exception of the Malayalam and Hindi, are taught in English in all standards.

The students of Board classes, Xth and XIIth are provided with extra facilities to make a better environment for studies. In the last two months of their academic year, they are exempt from daily Physical Training and evening games. They are also provided with tea in the early morning and late at night. The courses of these classes must be finished before November so that students can focus on studying according to their preferences, as the final board exams takes place in March.

Although tests, half-yearly and pre-board exams are conducted for Xth and XIIth standards too, only the marks obtained in the final board exam, which is conducted by CBSE, are counted. The results of class X and XII examinations of the school have been consistently above the overall CBSE national averages. There are eight periods for each standard daily, before lunch. After lunch, remedial class takes place. Students are not taught in remedial classes. They are supposed to do their homework in that time and ask teachers, if any difficulty arises.

Hostel Life

This school is a residential schools. Students are accommodated in four houses which are named as Aravalli, Nilgiri, Shivalik and Udayagiri(formerly known as Blue,Green,Red and Yellow houses, respectively). Each house is supervised by a House Master and Associate House Master. The role of teacher is extended into a local parent in this system.The school features gender specific dormitories. Students are provided with breakfast in the morning, lunch, evening snack and dinner. A movie show is organized every Sunday. All students watch movie in the multi-purpose hall. It becomes the students' second home after a short time.

Scouting, Guiding and NCC

Scouting and guiding activities takes place under the directions from Bharat Scouts and Guides. Students regularly and actively participate in various programmes of BSG. NCC is only for girls as of now.

Games and sports

Games and sports are encouraged in the school to develop fitness and physical and neuro-muscular skills and to promote the spirits of co-operation and sportsmanship. The school has grounds for cricket, basketball, volleyball, handball, Kho kho, hockey and football. Table tennis and gym kits are also available. Students in hostels are issued Caarrom boards for their enjoyment.

Migration

One of the important features of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme is a scheme of exchange of students from one Vidyalaya in a particular linguistic region to another in a Hindi linguistic region to promote understanding of the diversity and plurality of India's culture and its people. This school has migration settlement with Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, ballia

in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Scheme, selected 30% students of 9th class students are exchanged between the two schools i.e. about 20 students.

Achievements

• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Neriamangalam is ranked as 14th best CBSE school in India and 2nd Best school in Kerala^[3]

References

• JNV Ernakulam Official Website