Provision of schools in Railway Colonies for the children of Railway Servants

Provision of schools in Railway Colonies for the children of Railway Servants

Government of India
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)

No. E(W)2019/SC-2/3

New Delhi, dated 22.01.2021

The General Managers,
All Indian Railways & Production Units

Subject: Provision of schools in Railway Colonies for the children of Railway Servants.

Reference Board’s letter No. E(W)90/SC-2/Master Circular dated 21.12.1990 and E(W)2000/SC2/MC/l 8 dated 31.05.2001. Since then, a number of instructions on this subject have been issued in the form of Supplementary Circulars to the main Master Circular. It has now been decided by the Ministry of Railways to consolidate these instructions and issue a revised and updated version of the Master Circular as under, for information and guidance of all concerned.

2. Railway Schools

2.1 Educational facilities provided on the Railways owe their origin to the necessity for fulfilling the educational needs of the children of European and Anglo-Indian employees who, in the last century, formed a considerable proportion of the Railway servants posted at places where no European Schools were available. With this end in view, Railway schools were established at large Railway establishments. Certain Railways established boarding schools at hill stations for imparting education under European conditions. Other Railways assisted their employees by undertaking to pay a portion of the tuition fees. The educational facilities thus provided for Europeans were later ‘extended to Anglo Indians and when the number of educated Indians began to increase in Railway Services, the Railways began to provide• such facilities for the children of Indian Railways servants at places where adequate arrangements did not exist.

2.2 Under Article 246 – Item 25 of Concurrent List/List-III (Seventh Schedule), provision of educational facilities is primarily the responsibility of State Govt./Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (re-named as Ministry of Education). However, Railways have provided educational facilities to the limited extent within the constraint of available resources purely as a measure of staff welfare to meet the needs of wards/children of Railway servants only at such places where there is a concentration of Railway servants and the educational facilities provided thereat by other agencies viz. Central/State & private are found inadequate or are totally absent resulting in hardship or inconvenience to them.

2.3 Educational facilities provided by the Railways are generally confined to Primary/Middle/ High/Senior Secondary Standards. The Railways do not normally enter into the field of college and Technical education owing to their extant policy keeping in view the far reaching administrative and financial implications.

3. Schools functioning in Railway colonies

Several Railway Educational Institutions comprising a Degree College, Senior Secondary Schools, High Schools, Middle, Primary and ATP Schools are functioning on our system. In addition to this, Kendriya Vidyalayas (both under Civil and Project sector) and numerous private schools are also functioning on Railway land in order to cater to the needs of children of Railway servants.

3.1 It may be reiterated that provision of educational facilities is primarily the responsibility of the State Govt./Union Ministry Education. It is admitted that difficulties in this respect were being experienced in the past by Railway servants but with the passage of time and considerable and extensive educational facilities being provided by different agencies, Government as well as private at various places, the demands for expansion/upgradation of schools •to the various levels/standards, should considerably reduce and finally cease to exist. Railway servants should, therefore, avail of the existing educational facilities which have been provided by the State Govt. etc. for the general public. To achieve this goal, the Board have also decided as a matter of policy to establish Kendriya Vidyalayas preferably in “Civil Sector” in Railway colonies which while meeting the needs of the employees, will also reduce our financial burden on the administration of the schools.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)83/SC-2/27 dated 13.9.1988)

3.2 Keeping in view the existing facilities at various places where there is a concentration of Railway servants, constraint of funds, restrictions imposed on creation/upgradation of posts without matching su1Tender of live posts and imperative need to effect stringent economy in administrative expenditure etc., the Board desire that a critical review of Austerity Type Primary Schools should be undertaken by respective Railway Administrations and the feasibility of closure, amalgamation or conversion of such schools should be examined and a phased programme should be chalked out. Similar study/review should also be conducted in respect of other schools viz. Primary, Middle, High/Higher Secondary Schools on opening/expansion of non-Railway Schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas and efforts should be made to progressively close down the existing Railway schools matching the expansion of Keridriya Vidyalayas and other non-Railway schools.

3.3 With this end in view, the following points should be kept in view by the Railway Administrations while forwarding their proposals regarding upgradation/expansion of Railway Schools, introduction of new sections/classes/subjects etc. in the prescribed proforma to the Railway Board:-

(i) No post-facto sanction of the Board to regularize the action taken by the Railway Administration without their prior approval will be accorded and may also result in reversing the action taken by the Railway Administration and fixing responsibility on the officers concerned for non-compliance of Board’s orders;

(ii) No proposal for opening of new Railway school should be sent to the Board;

(iii) Efforts should continue to be made to obtain grant-in-aid from respective State Governments where Railway Schools are situated;

(iv) Proposals for expansion/upgradation, etc. of Railway Schools should be submitted to the Board for consideration only sparingly and where inescapable and fully justified taking into account the existing schooling facilities, etc. subject to the Railway Administration being able to muster suitable matching surrender of live posts equal to the cost of posts of teaching and non-teaching staff involved in the proposal; and

(v) On opening of Kendriya Vidyalayas in Railway colonies, the concerned Railway Administration should take immediate steps to close down the ATP Schools, if any, already functioning at the stations. Steps for closing down the higher classes/schools may be taken progressively with the expansion of the Kendriya Vidyalayas.

3.4 Proposals regarding opening of new sections/classes, introduction of new subjects, upgradation of schools etc. should be sent to the Board (with detailed estimate of recurring and non-recurring expenditure involved) duly vetted by the FA&CAO in presc1ibed proforma positively by December each year to enable the Board to consider the same on merit and accord their approval, if found feasible before the commencement of the academic session. (Railway Board’s letter No.E(W)83/SC-2/27 dated 13.09.99)

4. General

4.1 Railway schools functioning in various Railway colonies must be got recognised by the Education Board/ Department of the respective State Govts. or Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi.

4.2 Railway Administrations should fall in line in respect of Medium of Instruction in Railway Schools with the State Governments to the extent obligatory as per their orders. For this purpose, if appointment of language teachers becomes necessary, the same may be done after obtaining the sanction of the competent authority if the State Govts. have also done so in the schools run by them.
(Railway Board’s letter No. Ea/TO49/EDI-318 dated 11.2.1956)

4.3 The children of outsiders should be admitted only if spare capacity is available, after admitting all children and wards of Railway servants. (Railway Board’s letter No. F(W)59/ED1149 dated 2.1.1960)

4.4 Wherever free education is provided by the State Governments in lower classes in schools run by them, the Railway Schools in these areas should also provide free education in lower classes run by them. They should approach the State Govt. for grant-in-aid to cover losses in fees through suitable grant-in-aid according to the scales which may have been laid down for covering losses in fees in aided schools.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(140601ED117 dated 4.2.1960)

4.5 In all Railway Schools, the day’s work should begin with the community singing of the National Anthem.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)631.ED1/33 dated 10.9.63)

4.6 Scout and Guide activities should also be given due encouragement in Railway Schools, particularly in Primary and Middle Schools, etc. to inculcate the spirit of selfless service, self discipline etc. amongst the children, which will go a long way in character building. Assistance and guidance, if any needed in this respect, may be sought from the Railway’s Scout & Guide Organizations functioning at various levels.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)841SC2110 dated 19.9,88)

4.7 (i) Coaching for courses for children of Railway servants for recruitment to the non-technical popular categories/technical categories like Office Clerks, Commercial Clerks, Asstt. Station Masters, Guards, etc., through examinations conducted by Railway Recruitment Boards may be imparted in Railway Schools where requisite infrastructure facilities are available during non-working schools hours i.e. either in the morning evening or on holidays for a specific duration;

(ii) Admission to coaching classes shall be restricted to children of Railway servants studying in Matriculation or Higher Classes in Railway/non-Railway schools;

(iii) To begin with, coaching may be imparted in the subjects prescribed for the non-technical popular categories examinations conducted by Railway Recruitment Boards;

(iv) A reasonable minimum amount may be levied as tuition fee on students attending coaching classes with a view to restricting admissions to needy and aspiring students only;

(v) Railway servants who have the experience and expertise in teaching and possess wide knowledge and conversant with the prescribed subjects and type of questions being asked in the examinations conducted by Railway Recruitment Boards be engaged and paid suitable amount of honorarium from the amounts collected vide (iv) above and from the Staff Benefit Fund, as may be determined by the Railway Administrations in consultation with their FA & CAO;

(vi) Details relating to coaching schemes may be worked out by the Chief Personnel Officer in consultation with FA & CAO and implemented at a few selected centres e.g. Zonal/Divisional Railway Hqrs. on an experimental basis. However, above course of action may be introduced in one High/Hr. Sec. School/Inter College in each Division immediately. (Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)831SC2124 dated 28.4.87)

4.8 Training in Arts and Crafts may be introduced in Railway Higher Secondary, High and Middle Schools as a hobby, wherever possible. In case this involves incurrence of additional expenditure, proposals should be sent to the Ministry of Railways with the concurrence of the FA & CAO. (Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)6l/SC 2/50 dated 5.9.61)

4.9 Railway Schools do not constitute ‘industry’. Hence, the same should be outside the scope of the existing Trade Unions on Railways. However, there should be no objection to the Teachers forming associations of their own. (Railway Board’s letter No. E(L W4)65AT/ID/l-6 dated 4.1.66)

4.10 Railway School Teachers in their individual capacity may be permitted to place their grievances before the senior DPOs/SPOs who are normally the functionaries responsible to oversee the smooth functioning of the schools in their capacities as President/Vice President of the School. The teachers in their individual capacities may be permitted to discuss their grievances with the officers in the Personnel Department responsible for the functioning of the Schools with prior appointment. The grievances of these teachers, whenever taken up in this mariner, should be thoroughly examined by the Administration and action taken to redress the grievances within the framework of the Rules.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(LR)82/UTP/2 dated 6.2.1984)

5. Pay Scales of Teaching Staff

5.1 No separate posts of Asstt. Headmasters/Asst Head-mistresses/Vice Principals should be created. Where considered necessary, the senior most post-graduate teacher in scale Rs.6500- 10500 (RSRP) selection grade working in a Higher Secondary School/senior most graduate teacher in scale Rs.5500 – 9000 (RSRP) working in a High School, should be put to work as Asstt. Headmaster/Asstt. Headmistress/ Vice Principal by reducing his/her teaching load.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)62/SC-2/44 dt. 4.5.63 and, PC-V98/Ill 1/26 dt. 23.10.1988

5.2 However, in Higher Secondary Schools/Inter Colleges, with an enrolment of 1000 or more students, the senior most Post Graduate Teachers in scales of Rs.7500-12000 (RSRP)/Rs.8000-13500 (RSRP), as the case may be designated and utilised as Vice­ Principals by reducing their teaching workload. If necessary, selected suitable Post Graduate Teachers may be shifted to locations where needed, if they are not readily available there.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)83/SC2/18 dt. 28.11.88; and PC-V/98!1/ll /26 dt. 23.10.98)

5.3 As regards 6th CPC Schedules regarding pay scale of teaching staff have been circulated by Board’s letter No. PC VI/2008/If RSRP/1 dated 22.09.2008 & 17.07.2009. The scales allotted to the teaching staff are as under:

* i) These categories will retain their existing classification as group C
ii) Residency period will remain unchanged.
# modified vide letter dated 17.07.2009(RBE No. 131/09)

5.4 No specific recommendation have been made by 7th CPC in respect of Pay Scales of Teaching Staff of Railway schools, therefore, only replacement Pay Level in the Pay Matrix is applicable to Teaching Staff.

5.5 Each case of transfer of a Railway School to the State Government should be examined on merits. Where this can be done, the Railway Administrations may agree to license the school buildings on nominal license fee and give the furniture free of cost so as to make it attractive for the State Govt. to take over the school. In any case, approval of the Railway Board may be obtained before any Railway School is handed over to the State Government.
(Railway Board 1s letter No. E(W)61/ED l/6 dated 17.3.1962)

5.6 The main objective of conducting inspections in Railway Schools is to streamline their day-to-day administration and effect necessary, improvements in educational standards. Vigorous follow-up action should be taken on Inspection Reports submitted by Inspecting Officers and whenever deficiencies have been pointed out these should be speedily rectified.

The Chief Personnel Officers should take personal interest and ensure that necessary improvements, where called for, are effected with a view to improve the standard of Railway Schools. It should also be ensured that Railway Schools are regularly inspected by the State Govt. Inspectors and their recommendations implemented to the extent possible. In this connection, atteqtion is also invited to the recommendations of Educational Advisers which were sent along with Board’s letter No. E(W)58/ED1/9 dated 21.9.1959.
(Railway Board ‘s letter No. E(W)65/SC2/54 dated 15.2.1966)

5.7 Any changes in the pattern of classes in Railway Schools such as addition or abolition of classes, upgradation or down gradation of schools etc. should be reported to Board for information together with the reasons necessitating such changes.
(Railway Board ‘s letter No. E(W)66/SC-2 /8 Pt. dated 31.10.66)

5.8 Concessions to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Communities in the matter of admission to the Railway Schools including Oak Grove School at Jharipani:

5.9 (1) It has been decided by the Railway Board that the following concessions should be allowed to the students belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in the admission to the Railway schools:

(a) A distinct reservation of 15% for SC and 7.5% for ST candidates•

(b) Where admissions are made with reference to percentage of marks obtained, 1 % reduction in marks may be allowed in the case of SC and ST candidates provided the lower percentage does not fall below the minimum marks required to pass the qualifying examination;

(c) The upper age limit for SCs/STs may be raised by three years;

(d) No child/ward of a member of staff belonging to SC/ST community should be refused admission in Primary classes; .

(e) In other classes, admission should not normally be refused up to the extent of the quota exclusive of any who secures admission on merits.

(2) To ensure that the concessions in the matter of admission as referred to above are actually available to the SC and ST communities, the Railway administration should maintain the following data:

(i) No. of candidates seeking admission each year;
(a) No. out of these are children and wards of Railway servants separately for SC, ST and other communities;
(b) Outsiders, separately for SC, ST and other communities :
(ii) Number refused admission in the same details as in (i) above;
(iii) Reasons for refusal of admission in the case of SC and ST candidates;
(a) Where they are children and wards;
(b) Where they are outsiders.

(3) Reservation for physically handicapped candidates – 3% of seats are reserved for Physically Handicapped children.

6. Working Hours and Holidays

6.1 It has been decided to fix uniform number of vacations/holidays for Railway school teachers (including Lecturers/Junior Lecturers in Railway Inter-colleges wherever existing) over all Indian Railways in the manner as stated below:

(i) Railway schools shall function for 6 hours and IO minutes duration in a day (total 370 minutes) which shall include assembly/prayer time of 20 minutes at the start in the rooming, a recess break of 30 minutes and a total of 8 periods of 40 minutes duration each, distributed evenly before and after the recess.

(ii) Number of vacations/holidays admissible to Railway school teachers during the academic session shall be as below:

(a) Summer vacations – 50 days (starting from a date between 11th & 15th May)
(b) Autumn break/ Dussehra holidays – 10 days (as per festival calendar)
(c) Winter break – 13 days (starting from 23rd-24th December)

The above is the normal schedule of vacations and Zonal Railways are at liberty to distribute these vacations as per local festival/customary requirements or climatic conditions but keeping the total to 73 vacations in a year. Oak Grove School, Jharipani, Mussoorie (Northern railway) may observe longer winter vacations within the number of vacations prescribed.

(iii) 14 compulsory holidays including 3 national holidays to be observed as per calendar circulated by Railway Board every year.

(iv) 5 additional holidays from the list of optional holidays/restricted holidays as circulated by Railway board every year at the discretion of Zonal Railways.

(v) Every Sunday shall be weekly off and every 2nd Saturday of the month shall also be a non-working day in Railway schools.

(vi) No separate holiday shall be admissible for Annual Day and Sports Day in Railway schools and these days may be observed by suitable adjustments or compensation.

6.2 Leave entitlements of vacation staff including teachers are regulated in terms of Liberalized Leave Rules as amended from time to time.

6.3 The aforesaid schedule of working/vacations/holidays may be implemented in all Railway schools from the academic session 2013-14 and compliance reported to Railway Board. (Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)2011/SC-2/4 dated 14.08.2013)

6.4 In partial modification of aforesaid letter, it has been decided that minimum number of working hours per week for Railway school teacher shall be 45 teaching hours including preparation hours. Modification in working hours for Railway school teachers has been made in line with provisions of RTE Act, 2009.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)2011/SC-2 /24 dated 10.11.2014)

7. Annual Report

All Railway Units are required to furnish relevant details in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-I to Annexure-VI) given at the end of this Circular to the Board Positively by 31st July every year.

8. Kendriya Vidyalayas

8.1 In Railway areas where there is a concentration of Railway servants and the educational facilities made available by the State/Central Govt. and Local/private Agencies are found absent or inadequate to meet the needs of the children/wards of Railway servants, the Ministry of Railways have decided, as a matter of policy, to get Kendriya Vidyalayas established preferably in Civil Sector in Railway colonies which will, while meeting the needs of the employees, reduce our financial burden on the administration of the schools.

8.2 Kendriya Vidyalayas are to be opened only at Zonal/Divisional HQs, major workshops and other Railway establishments where there is a large concentration of Railway servants, or say, at least one thousand, with inter-state transferable liabilities and when the existing facilities are found inadequate or such facilities are non-existent, to meet the needs of the children of Railway servants.

8.3 Such schools will normally be opened only in ‘Civil Sector’.

8.4 Pursuant to the Budget announcement in the year 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of HRD for starting of 50 new KVs on Railway land. Based on the sanction by the Govt of India (Ministry of HRD/KVS), a proposal from the concerned Zonal Railway approved by GM, PFA & PCE is received. On this proposal, approval of the Board (MS) is communicated to the concerned Zonal Railways for taking further necessary action in coordination with the local KVS authorities for opening of the Kendriya Vidyalaya sanctioned.

8.5 Railways should make available the physical facilities in conformity with the prescribed terms of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan as indicated below:

(i) Fully developed land (normally ranging between 10 -15 acres lesser areas in case of metropolitan cities only, on lease basis);

(ii) Temporary accommodation on nominal license fee for the school (initially a minimum of 6-7 classrooms – one room each for classes I to V, one room for the Principal and one for the staff-with requisite basic facilities) and additional classrooms with the progressive growth of the school till such time the Sangathan constructs its own school building;

(iii) Residential accommodation to 50% of the staff viz., residential accommodation for Principal (Type-IV), 3 to 4 Type-III / II type quarters for teaching staff and one Type-I quarters for Class IV staff on temporary basis on payment of normal license fees, as applicable to Railway servants till such time the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan undertakes construction of staff quarters.

8.6 After opening of Kendriya Vidyalayas in Railway colonies, information in this regard should be furnished to the Railway Board immediately.

8.7 The following priorities have been laid down by the Government of India in Kendriya Vidyalayas Civil Sector for admission and no deviation from the same can be made:

(i) Children of transferable Central Govt. servants including Defence/CRFS/BSF Personnel in uniform employees of All India Services and Indian Foreign Service;

(ii) (ii) Children of transferable employees of Autonomous Bodies and Public Sector Undertakings fully financed by Central Govt;

(iii) Children of non-transferable Central Govt. servants and Defence Personnel;

(iv) Children of other floating population which includes civilian population desirous of joining the pattern of studies adopted in the Kendriya Vidyalayas.

(v) 10 seats in each section of Class-I and 10 seats in all other classes put together will be reserved every year for children on wards of employees of sponsoring agencies in civil Sector Kendriya Vidyalayas. These seats will be over and above the admission sought in normal course.
(Railway Board’s letter No.E(W)99/SC-218 dated 26.09.1999)

Signed copy