AWES : A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
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After independence, education in a residential public school was out of reach for most officers. 1962 to 1973 saw a massive expansion of the Indian Army. Once the colour service of Jawans was increased, more and more families moved into military stations. Existing education facilities could not meet the aspirations of all ranks. Even the Central Schools (KVs) did not meet our requirement. This is when the Indian Army took upon itself an additional charter for education of wards of Army personnel. It is, however, in the late seventies that the Indian Army debated and evolved a vision for the education of the wards of Army personnel that resulted in creation of AWES.
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15 Jan 1980 is a red letter day in the history of the Indian Army, when the then COAS announced the involvement of the Army to promote education for the wards of our personnel. By this time, 28 Regimental Schools and four High Schools had already come up. Army Welfare Education Organisation (AWEO) was created, thereby making a modest beginning to bring these Schools under this organisation within overall control of AG’s Branch. AWEO was registered as AWES under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 on 29 Apr 1983. AWES is 25 years old on 29 Apr 08. A purely non profit welfare organisation.
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The process of expanding the wings commenced with a mandate that we would add at least 5 schools every year (one per Command). From a population of 20,000 children in 1987, our schools have now grown to 127 spread across the country with a population of 1.7 lac children. Nearly 5000 children are added each year to our schools.
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1994 was yet another milestone that the Army is proud of, when Late Gen BC Joshi, the then COAS, took a bold and far reaching decision to set up our first Professional College – Army Institute of Technology (AIT), Pune. This indeed was the seed that was to inspire us in years to come. Thereafter AWES added almost one College every year with 13 Colleges at present, AWES has thus filled a major void by providing avenues to our wards to join professional Colleges for higher education by competing within the system. This year the prestigious Medical College at Delhi Cantt has opened. This mega project having ultra modern facilities will go a long way in meeting the aspiration of the environment.
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The Vision of AWES - ‘Quality Education at Affordable Cost’. To ensure a holistic development of the child AWES has launched a series of initiatives. These are :-
Computer Aided Learning.
Tutorials using satellite technology through V-SAT (75 Schools).
English Bridge course for the first generation learners.
Managing the challenges of Adolescence.
Herbal Gardens in every school for awareness of medicinal plants.
Science Parks.
Faculty Enrichment Programmes to include English Language Teaching.
Games, sports, hobby centres and activity clubs.
Life saving skills.
Adventure Camps with wide ranging challenging activities.
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Most schools have been functioning from vintage barracks. A new era was ushered in 2007 wherein six schools with ultra modern facilities, through AMWP were occupied. As of now 23 schools have been completed and 20 schools are under various stages of planning/construction. In addition two schools in Delhi Cantt and one at Jalandhar from AG’s Welfare Funds have been completed. State of the state of art buildings have also been made through AG’s Welfare Fund for Dental, Law, Hotel Management and MBA Colleges. Construction of Nursing College is underway.
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2007-08 the Silver Jubilee Year has been celebrated with gusto and fervor. The culmination is on 29 Apr 08 with COAS releasing the ‘Special Day Cover’ to mark the occasion, followed by a cultural programme competition and art/craft exhibition with representation form each Command.
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The endeavour of AWES has been to provide the very best to the wards of Army personnel. It is this commitment that makes ‘AWES’ march ahead to be second to none and in keeping with the standards and tradition of the Army.
AWES SCHOOLS
BACKGROUND HISTORY
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From 28 Regimental Schools and four high Schools in 80's, AWES has come a long way to 127 Army Schools/Army Public Schools as of now. Even in late eightees (1987), our student strength was just 20,000 as against 1.7 lakh as of date. Nearly 5000 students are added in our schools each year and 40,000 students shift from one Army School to another.
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All Army Schools/Army Public Schools run by AWES are affiliated with CBSE. Medium of instruction is English.
Salient Features of Army Schools
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These are as under:-
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No ward of Army personnel is denied admission in any Army School.
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81% of children belong to Personnel Below Officers Rank (PBOR) category who mostly hail from rural background.
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Uniform and coordinated All India syllabi and curricula to ensure that children during mid session transfer do not suffer on account of variance in coverage of syllabi.
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Vary in strength from large category schools (strength over 2500 children) to small category schools - (strength upto 500) with a heterogeneous dremix of chiln.
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Good availability of IT infrastructure. All schools have IT Laboratories and most of schools have implemented Computer Aided Learning (CAL).
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Sound administration and logistic support from local Army Formations/units.
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Environment of discipline, secularism, human values and security is conducive towards good education is inbuilt.
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Greater emphasis on developing good communication skill in English since majority of our children hail from non-English speaking background.
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Greater emphasis on developing good communication skill in English since majority of our children hail from non-English speaking background.
GROWTH OF ARMY SCHOOLS
Increase in No of Army Schools
1. Number of Army Schools under AWES have increased from 126 in 2009-10 to 127 in 2010-11. Regimental school (Golden Palam Army School) at Chennai redesignated as Army Public School.
Addition of Higher Classes
2. Class X. Army School Trivendrum, Golconda, Tenga Valley and Kamptee has added class X. Total No of Class X Army Schools now are 114.
3. Class XII. Army Public School Shankar Vihar has added Class XII. There are 87 Class XII Army Schools.
Re-designation of Army Schools
4. Consequent to shifting into new school buildings, eight Army Schools i.e. Jaipur, Narangi, Jalandhar, Dhrangadhara, Tibri, Janglot, Bhuj & Ambala have been re-designated as Army Public Schools during last year and AS Kunraghat redesignated as APS this year.
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