Human Resources Development Minister M M Pallam Raju has said the model schools which are being set up with a view to provide quality secondary education will be operational from the academic session 2015-16.

He said the government has planned to have 6,000 model schools in the country including 3,500 in the public mode and 2,500 under Public Private Partnership, PPP mode.

The minister gave this information to the media in New Delhi after a meeting in New Delhi with stakeholders and planning commission officials.

He said that his ministry along with Planning Commission officials has finalized a Model Concessional Agreement in this regard.

At least 40 per cent of the total number of students in these schools will have to be from economically weaker sections and the centre has agreed to bear the expenses on education of these students.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said the Model Concessional Agreement would now be placed before the inter-ministerial committee headed by Secretary Education on the 31st of this month for approval.

He said under the PPP arrangement, private players will invest in land, building and manage the school and state government would help them in acquiring land for schools.