Army Welfare Education Society - AWES

Army Welfare Education Society - AWES, is a non-profit welfare organization meeting the educational needs of the wards of army personnel; runs CBSE-affiliated schools (134 army public & 246 army preprimary schools for 2 lakh students), 12 colleges etc.; has COAS as Patron-in-Chief.

History 

After independence, education in residential public school was out of reach for most of the officers and JCO's/OR.  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 fully 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.

The year 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 as a  purely non profit welfare organisation.

The management of AWES vests with Army Headquarters, with COAS as the Patron in Chief, GOC-in-C of Commands as Patron and an Executive Committee with the Adjutant General as Chairman. Broad  policy guidelines of the Army Headquarters are disseminated to the Schools by AWES and the academic affiliation provided with CBSE. The syllabus and its progress is monitored to ensure equal progress in all Schools. CBSE guidelines are also disseminated.

The Schools are administered by the Local Station Commanders through the School Administration and Management Committee (SAMC). All aspects of administration are looked after by the SAMC.

The process of expanding the wings commenced with a mandate that AWES would add at least 5 Army Public Schools every year (one per Command). From a population of 20,000 children in 1987, its schools have now grown to 134 Army Public Schools and 246 Army Pre Primary Schools spread across the country with a population of more than two lac children. Nearly 5000 children are added to its schools every year.

The year 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 the first Professional College - Army Institute of Technology (AIT), Pune. This indeed was the seed that was to inspire in years to come. Thereafter AWES added almost one College every year with 12 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. ACMS at Delhi Cantt opened in the year 2008 which is amongst the best in the country. This mega project having ultra modern facilities will go a long way in meeting the aspiration of the environment. Eight colleges have so far been constructed in India. 

Vision

The vision of AWES is ‘Quality Education at Affordable Cost’ and in order to ensure a holistic development of the child AWES has launched a series of initiatives as follows:

• Computer Aided Learning.
• 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.
• Games, sports, hobby centres and activity clubs.
• Life saving skills.
• Adventure Camps with wide ranging challenging activities.
• Psychomotor tasks.

Growth of Army Public Schools

https://www.awesindia.com/