INTRODUCTION
The Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) is an organization that helps the children of Indian Army soldiers get quality education. It was started in 1983. This organisation is run by a group of senior army officers who make the rules and plans. There is also a team of retired army officers who work on the daily tasks and activities of the AWES.
The AWES has set up many schools for army children across India. These schools are called Army Public Schools and Army Pre-Primary Schools. They offer high-quality education at low costs. The AWES also has other services and programs for army families.
This organisation plays a crucial role in providing quality education at affordable costs to the wards of Army Personnel. It has established over 137 Army Public Schools and 249 Army Pre Primary Schools across India. The AWES also runs 12 professional colleges that offer courses in engineering, management, medical, dental, law, and education. The AWES also has other welfare services and initiatives for army families. This article aims to provide an in-depth understanding of AWES, its history, structure, mission, services, impact, challenges, and prospects.
ORGNISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AWES
The Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) is a non-profit organization that provides education facilities for the children of Indian Army personnel. It is managed by Army Headquarters, with the Chief of Army Staff as the Patron-in-Chief. The AWES has a board of governors and an executive committee that sets the policies and objectives of the organization.
The Board of Governors (BOG) is the highest authority of This organisation. The Chief of Army Staff is the main patron and the Army Commanders are the other patrons. The Adjutant General leads an Executive Committee that follows the BOG’s instructions. A retired Officer is the full-time secretary of AWES. This secretariat which started functioning under AG’s Branch as CW-9 later changed into the present-day HQ AWES under a retired officer of Major General rank called as MD AWES.
This organisation has three levels of management that work together to run its activities. The top level is the group of senior army officers who make the rules and plans at Army Headquarters. The middle level is the group of army officers who look after the schools and colleges at Headquarters Command. The bottom level is the group of people who take care of the school at the place where it is.
This organisation has a team of key personnel who are responsible for the daily operations and functions of the organization. The managing director is the head of the AWES secretariat and oversees the overall administration and finance of the organization. The director coordinator is in charge of the coordination and supervision of the schools and colleges under AWES. The director of projects is responsible for the planning and execution of new projects and initiatives of AWES.
MISSION AND OBJECTIVES
The primary mission of this society is to manage and ensure proper education facilities for the children of Indian Army personnel. This organisation aims to provide quality education at affordable costs to army children across India. The objectives of AWES include creating or augmenting educational and technical/professional/vocational training facilities to meet the needs of the army children. The AWES also strives to enhance the academic standards and performance of the students.
SERVICES OFFERED BY AWES
The AWES offers a range of services and programs for the army children and families. The AWES has established over 137 Army Public Schools and 249 Army Pre Primary Schools across India. These schools offer high-quality education from kindergarten to class XII. The AWES also runs 12 professional colleges that offer courses in engineering, management, medical, dental, law, and education. The AWES also has other welfare services and initiatives such as scholarships, counselling, sports, and cultural activities.
Click here to Explore AWES Website
ARMY PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOLS (APPS)
As school and college education were advancing quickly, pre-school education was also developing, but more quietly, under local military groups. In 2005, the Army Pre-school Education Council (APEC) was created under the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA). Their goal was to create a solid Early Child Care & Education (ECCE) program following APEC guidelines. These schools were then renamed as Army Pre-Primary Schools (APPS). These schools, managed by local military groups, receive support in curriculum, teacher training, and books from AWES. Currently, there are 249 Army Pre Primary Schools in India.
ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (APS)
The schools started as Army High schools but later became Army Schools. On 01 Jul 2011, they changed their name to Army Public Schools. In India, there are a total of 137 Army Public Schools spread across various cantonments and military stations. These schools adhere to the NCERT curriculum and are affiliated with CBSE, New Delhi. Their administration is overseen by local formation commanders through School Administration and Management Committees (SAMC). The schools have grown a lot since 1987, when they had only 20000 students. Now they have about 2.3 lakh students and 8500 teachers. Every year, more students join the schools
Click here to download contact of APS schools location wise
PROFESSIONAL COLLEGES
Professional Colleges are colleges that offer courses and degrees in different fields and careers. This organisation started its first professional college in 1994, when Late Gen BC Joshi, the COAS at that time, decided to start an Engineering and Medical College. He wanted to help the army children get higher education and better opportunities. Sadly, he could not see his dream come true, as he passed away before the Medical College was opened. But His dream lived on after he passed away.
The AWES continued to grow and open more professional colleges in different places and subjects. Today, there are 12 professional colleges under AWES, including the Army College of Medical Sciences (ACMS), which was the late General’s dream. The other colleges are in Hotel Management, Management, Law, Dental Sciences, Education, Fashion Design and Nursing. These colleges provide quality education and training to the army children and help them achieve their goals.
Click here to explore AWES Avenues after 10+2
COLLEGES UNDER AWES & COURSES OFFERED BY THEM
| SER NO | NAME OF COLLEGE AND LOCATION | COURSES OFFERED | AFFILIATION & YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT |
| 1 | Army Institute of Technology, Pune | BE in IT, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Electronics and Telecommunication | University of Pune, 1994 |
| 2 | Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Bangalore | Bachelor’s in Hotel Management | Bangalore University, 1996 |
| 3 | Army Institute of Management, Kolkata | MBA | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, 1997 |
| 4 | Army Institute of Management and Technology, Greater Noida | MBA | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, 2004 |
| 5 | Army College of Dental Sciences, Secunderabad | BDS | NTR University of Health Sciences, 2001 |
| 6 | Army College of Nursing, Jalandhar | B Sc in Nursing | Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, 2005 |
| 7 | Army Law College (ALC), Kanhe (Pune) | BA LLB | Savitribai Phule Pune University 2018 |
| 8 | Army Institute of Education, Greater Noida | B Ed | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, 2003 |
| 9 | Army Institute of Law, Mohali | BA LLB | Punjabi University, 1999 |
| 10 | Army Institute of Fashion Design, Bangalore | PG Diploma, Bachelor’s and Certificate in Fashion Design | Bangalore University, 2004 |
| 11 | Army Institute of Nursing, Guwahati | B Sc in Nursing | Guwahati University, 2006 |
| 12 | Army College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi | MBBS | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, 2008 |
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH CENTRE
Running under the Aegis of Army Welfare Education Society, FDRC is a place where teachers learn new things and become better at teaching. Teachers are very important for schools because they help the children learn and grow. Education is always changing, so teachers need to know the best ways to teach the children and make them happy. That is why FDRC was started in March 2009.
FDRC teaches teachers from many different schools, not only from APSs and Army Pre Primary Schools, but also from Sainik Schools, Rashtriya Military Schools and schools run by Assam Rifles, NSG, Navy and Air Force. Even some schools from Nepal, Andaman & Nicobar and other places send their teachers to FDRC. FDRC has very good teachers of its own and also brings experts from outside to teach the teachers. FDRC is a very good place for teacher empowerment.
CONCLUSION
This article has given a detailed overview of the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES), an organization that provides education facilities for the children of Indian Army personnel. It has explained the history, structure, mission, services, impact, challenges, and prospects of this organisation It has also described the various schools and colleges that Army Welfare Education Society runs across India, such as Army Public Schools, Army Pre-Primary Schools, and Professional Colleges. Army Welfare Education Society is a remarkable example of how the army cares for its families and helps them achieve their educational and career goals.
