Saran: Political strategist and Jan Suraj leader Prashant Kishor has pledged to open a school modelled on the prestigious Netarhat Residential School in every block of Bihar if his party comes to power. Speaking during his Bihar Badlaav Yatra in Saran, Kishor announced that, until these schools are established, the government would fund regulated fees for private school education.
Kishor outlined his plan to improve the state’s public education system by proposing that five schools modelled on Netarhat be built in each block, estimating an annual expenditure of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore. He admitted that the full-scale implementation would require nearly Rs 1 lakh crore, an amount the state currently cannot afford.
“Instead of 5000 new schools all at once, we aim to make at least one high-quality government school in every block. We are calling it ‘Netarhat’ because that school, run by the Bihar government, has produced over 1,500 IAS and IPS officers. Imagine the social impact if similar schools are established across Bihar,” Kishor said.
He also suggested that while it might take five to ten years to overhaul government schools, Jan Suraj would ensure that children do not suffer in the interim. “Until then, the state will pay a regulated fee for students to study in nearby private schools,” he added.
Kishor said about one-third of Bihar’s current education budget – around Rs 7,000 crore – would be allocated for the initiative, with a goal to have five Netarhat-model schools in every block before the next election.
The Netarhat Residential School, run by the state government, is known for its Gurukul-style, residential model and academic excellence. Admission is based on a competitive entrance exam, and the institution has produced alumni who are now scientists at ISRO, civil servants, and senior bureaucrats.
