The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) is set to organise a two-day Principals’ Conclave on December 16 and 17, 2025, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The conclave aims to strengthen leadership, governance and administrative efficiency across Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), which play a crucial role in providing quality education to tribal students nationwide.
Participation of 499 EMRS Principals
The conclave will bring together 499 Principals from EMRSs across different states and union territories. Their participation reflects NESTS’ continued emphasis on empowering school leadership as the cornerstone of institutional effectiveness and student success.
The programme is designed to provide principals with updated knowledge, procedural clarity and leadership competencies aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) and the strategic priorities of NESTS. It also aims to create a shared understanding of expectations, standards and best practices across the EMRS ecosystem.
Focus on NEP-Aligned Reforms and Flagship Initiatives
A central theme of the conclave is to orient principals on ongoing projects, flagship initiatives and partner-supported programmes being implemented in EMRSs. These initiatives span academic, digital, cultural, health and capacity-building domains, many of which are being rolled out in collaboration with national institutions and expert organisations.
NESTS has observed gaps in awareness and uniform implementation of these programmes at the school level. The conclave seeks to bridge this gap by ensuring that principals clearly understand the objectives, significance and expected outcomes of each initiative, enabling timely and effective execution on the ground.
Academic and Student-Centric Deliberations
The academic agenda of the conclave covers a wide range of student-centric themes. These include academic reforms, lesson planning, classroom processes and strategies to improve learning outcomes in EMRS classrooms.
Key discussions will also focus on CBSE’s two-examination system, language proficiency, mental health and emotional well-being of students, and structured mechanisms for supporting underprivileged learners. Programmes such as TALASH, Bharat Scouts and Guides and Kaushalaya will be discussed in detail to highlight their role in holistic student development.
Strengthening Administration and Human Resources
Administrative and human resource management will form another important pillar of the conclave. Sessions will address issues related to Annual Performance Assessment Reports (APAR), probation clearance, the National Pension System (NPS) and school safety measures.
School performance review mechanisms will also be discussed to help principals adopt data-driven approaches to monitoring institutional progress. These deliberations are expected to enhance accountability and transparency across EMRSs.
Financial and Infrastructure Governance
Recognising the growing responsibilities of EMRS principals in financial and infrastructural management, the conclave will include focused sessions on financial literacy and procurement systems. Topics such as Government e-Marketplace (GeM) procedures, procurement protocols and infrastructure maintenance will be explained in detail.
Principals will also receive guidance on procedures for taking over school buildings from construction agencies, ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards. This is expected to reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve operational efficiency.
Expert Guidance and Interactive Learning
Senior officers of NESTS, subject experts from CBSE, representatives of UNICEF and other domain specialists will lead the sessions. They will provide policy-level guidance, technical inputs and practical solutions to address real-world school management challenges.
The conclave will feature interactive discussions, question-and-answer sessions and peer-learning forums. These platforms will enable principals to share field experiences, raise concerns and collectively identify challenges and solutions.
Strengthening the EMRS Ecosystem
By facilitating direct interaction between principals, policymakers, experts and partner organisations, the conclave is expected to enhance leadership readiness and promote standardisation of best practices across EMRSs. It also aims to ensure consistent compliance with regulatory frameworks and educational norms.
The Principals’ Conclave reaffirms NESTS’ commitment to continuous capacity building and quality enhancement in tribal education. By empowering school leaders with improved vision, confidence and administrative effectiveness, the initiative is expected to strengthen the EMRS ecosystem and ensure better learning outcomes.
