'No admission': Gujarat govt school fills all seats before statewide enrolment drive
Vadodara, June 23
Vadodara's Kavi Dula Kaag Primary School has filled all available admission seats for the 2026-27 academic year before the state's annual school enrolment drive begins, prompting the school to place a "no admission" notice outside its premises amid sustained demand from parents.
The development comes ahead of the state government's statewide 'Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Rath Yatra' scheduled from June 23 to June 25, an initiative aimed at ensuring that every eligible child is enrolled in school.
The programme was launched in 2003 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister. Established in 2010 and run by the Municipal Primary Education Committee in Vadodara, Kavi Dula Kaag Government Primary School has emerged as one of the city's most sought-after government schools.
The institution, which has been included under the Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, currently caters to more than 1,700 students across 24 classrooms spread over three buildings.
The school's popularity has led to a long waiting list for admissions each year. School authorities attribute the demand to its academic record, infrastructure and emphasis on all-around student development.
The campus features air-conditioned computer and science laboratories, a library, smart classrooms equipped with interactive panels, sports facilities, a medicinal plant garden and a landscaped campus.
Following its inclusion in the PM SHRI scheme, the school is expected to receive additional resources. Nine new classrooms have already been sanctioned, which is expected to increase its capacity to more than 2,000 students.
The school has consistently secured high grades in government evaluations, and its students have recorded notable performances in competitive examinations, including the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS), PSE, CET and Gyan Sadhana examinations.
Alongside academics, the school has focused on sports and cultural activities. Students have represented Gujarat in competitions such as Kho-Kho, Langdi and Rope Mallakhamb, winning medals and honours at district, state and national levels.
Under the PM SHRI framework, the school is also expected to receive a dedicated sports teacher. It additionally trains students in disciplines including archery and athletics.
A distinctive feature of the school is its "Bal Sansad" or Children's Parliament initiative, which aims to foster leadership skills, democratic values and responsibility among students.
Participants are involved in committees overseeing areas such as the mid-day meal programme, prayer assemblies, cleanliness, gardening, health, water management and bulletin boards.
Committees are assessed on their performance, with the best-performing groups receiving recognition through a star-based system. The school has also achieved success in cultural competitions.
Between 2018 and 2025, its students secured top positions at the taluka, district and state levels in Ras Garba competitions organised under Kala Mahakumbh.
Students have also won accolades in other cultural events, including traditional wedding song competitions. As part of its PM SHRI status, the school is expected to receive a music teacher to support students participating in music-related activities and competitions.
The school's work has drawn visits and recognition from senior state leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Education Minister Rivaba Jadeja, former education ministers Praful Pansheriya and Kuber Dindor, according to information released by the state government.
A representative from the BRICS group also recently visited the campus.
With admissions already closed before the start of the enrolment drive, Kavi Dula Kaag Primary School stands out as an example of the growing demand for government schools that combine academic performance with modern facilities and extracurricular opportunities.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see a government school performing so well. But wait... if the school is already full before the enrolment drive, what about the children who are left out? The PM's Shala Praveshotsav is supposed to ensure every child gets admission. Hope the authorities plan to increase capacity or open more such schools in Vadodara. Quality over quantity is fine, but don't leave kids behind! 🤔
Bal Sansad and medicinal plant garden? Wow! This is the kind of holistic education we need. Government schools should focus on all-round development like this one. My cousin studied in a government school in Gujarat and he's now in IIT. सरकारी स्कूलों को और प्रोत्साहन मिलना चाहिए।
Nice to see government schools improving, but this is just one school. What about the thousands of other government schools in Gujarat that still lack basic facilities? This is a good example that should be replicated everywhere. Our tax money should be used to upgrade all schools, not just a few showpieces.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.