Kendriya Vidyalaya, (Hindi for Central School) is a system of government-supported schools for children of employees of India's central government. The system came into being in 1962. The uniform curriculum followed all over India is intended to ensure that wards of government employees do not face educational difficulties when their parent and family are transferred from one place to another.
A few Indian embassies abroad has a school of this type for the wards of the embassy officials and expatriate Indian population (if a parent is a government employee). There are 931 Kendriya Vidyalayas at present including 3 abroad; one each at Kathmandu, Moscow and Tehran. The 931 Kendriya Vidyalayas have been divided amongst 18 regions each headed by an Assistant Commissioner.
In such schools, heavy discrimination is made between the child of a top government official and that of a lowly-placed government employee. It is held that this school system facilitates national disintegration at the grassroots level.
Alumni of these schools can be found all over the world. The schools are affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education in Delhi.
School Pledge
"India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it. I shall give respect to my parents, teachers and elders and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their will being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness. "
School Curriculam
The Vidyalayas offer education from Grade 1 to 12, five years of primary(elementary) school, five years of secondary(middle) school and two years of Higher Secondary(High School). The schools follow a strict two or three language policy where hindi and english are compulsary. Sanskrit is also offered. Yoga, music, art and physical education is given equal priority as subjects like maths, science, social studies and computer science. The KV schools are now part of Think.com of Oracle Education Foundation.