NESTS Concludes 2nd EMRS Principals’ Conclave to Strengthen School Governance

Overall, the 2nd EMRS Principals’ Conclave significantly enhanced the capacities of school leaders in academic leadership, governance, financial management, and student welfare.

The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) successfully concluded the 2nd EMRS Principals’ Conclave on Effective Management of Schools on 16–17 December 2025 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The two-day national-level conclave brought together Principals and Principals-in-Charge of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) from across the country to deliberate on enhancing academic leadership, administrative efficiency, and institutional governance in tribal residential schools.

The conclave was inaugurated by Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Minister for Tribal Affairs, as the Chief Guest, in the presence of Shri Durga Das Uikey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, as the Guest of Honour. Senior officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and NESTS were also present, underscoring the importance accorded to leadership development within EMRSs.

The inaugural session began with a welcome address by the Additional Commissioner, NESTS, who outlined the objectives of the conclave and highlighted the central role of Principals in ensuring academic excellence, student welfare, and robust institutional management in EMRSs. This was followed by the release of several key publications, including the Training Resource Material, the 4th EMRS Sports Meet 2025 Report, the 6th Udbhav 2025 Report, and the 2nd EMRS Principals’ Conclave Book. These publications documented best practices, achievements, and milestones in academics, sports, leadership development, and governance across EMRSs nationwide.

The context-setting address by the Commissioner, NESTS, laid out the strategic vision for effective management of EMRSs, alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and expectations from Principals in driving institutional excellence and holistic development of tribal students.

Day 1: Academic Reforms, Leadership, and Governance

The first day of the conclave featured a series of expert-led sessions focused on academic reforms, leadership development, mental health, infrastructure management, and governance. Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations, CBSE, provided a detailed overview of the CBSE Two Examination System, explaining its objectives, structure, and implications for assessment reforms in EMRSs.

Student well-being was addressed in a session on mental health in residential schools by Shri Jitender Nagpal, who emphasized the need for structured emotional and psychological support systems for students living away from their families. Technical aspects of school management were covered in a joint session by Shri A. D. P. Keshari, Chief Construction Engineer, NESTS, and Shri Pramod Aggarwal, Senior Technical Consultant, NESTS, on maintenance, repair, and handover of school buildings from construction agencies.

Leadership and institutional culture were central themes in the session by Shri Manoj Kumar Srivastava, Director (Training), CBSE, who spoke on leadership qualities required to build vision, accountability, and a positive school culture. Dr. Sanjiv Kaura, CEO, Teach India Foundation, shared perspectives on uplifting underprivileged students through inclusive and student-centric educational strategies. The day concluded with a hands-on demonstration of the APAR online portal by Shri G. Arumugam, Consultant, NESTS, familiarising Principals with digital performance appraisal processes.

Day 2: Administration, Student Welfare, and Capacity Building

The second day focused on strengthening administrative systems, academic leadership, co-curricular integration, health awareness, and financial governance. Key sessions included discussions on HR issues and probation clearance by Shri G. Arumugam (NESTS), establishment of NCC units by Col. Vivek Shukla (NCC), and effective lesson planning by experts from COGRAD, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

Quality enhancement in secondary education under the TALASH framework was discussed by Mrs. Pramila Manoharan (UNICEF). Co-curricular development was addressed through sessions on Scouts and Guides by Shri Amar B. Chettri (Bharat Scouts and Guides), Centres of Excellence, and the Kaushalya Programme by representatives from Ekal Nari Foundation and Tata Motors Ltd.

Administrative and financial capacity building sessions covered the National Pension System (NPS) and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) procedures, led by Shri Harsh Agnihotri (NESTS). Student health and awareness were emphasized through sessions on sickle cell disease by Dr. Dinesh Burani (RGCI), and on financial literacy and cyber security by representatives from the Kotak Mahindra Foundation. The conclave concluded with an open discussion session, enabling Principals to share challenges, best practices, and actionable recommendations.

Overall, the 2nd EMRS Principals’ Conclave significantly enhanced the capacities of school leaders in academic leadership, governance, financial management, and student welfare. The successful event reaffirmed NESTS’ commitment to “Tribal Transformation Through Education” and to strengthening institutional excellence across Eklavya Model Residential Schools in line with NEP 2020.