New Delhi: Defence Minister A.K. Antony will inaugurate Nagaland's first Sainik School on Saturday i.e. May 12 2007.

Spread over an area of 300 acres, the school is located in the scenic foothills of Pauna range, about 47 km from Dimapur. This will be the 21st Sainik School in the country and the third in the northeast.

The boys-only residential school will be affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It will impart studies through the English medium and provide only science stream education to senior secondary students.

"The school will go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the mostly tribal people and integrating the remote region with the rest of the country," a Defence ministry release on Friday said.

Sainik Schools aim to prepare boys for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA). Lieutenant General Deepak Kapoor is set to be the first alumnus of a Sainik School to become the Indian Army chief in September on the retirement of the present incumbent, Gen. J.J. Singh. Kapoor is currently the Indian Army vice chief.

Established under the aegis of Sainik Schools Society, the new school has been set up "due to the hard work and persistent initiative of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is himself an alumnus of a Sainik School", the ministry release said.

Rio had laid its foundation stone Feb 16, 2004.

The National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) has constructed the school building. The school has received over Rs.140 million from the ministry of development of northeastern region (DONER) and Rs.20 million grants-in-aid from the state government for infrastructure.

It has a well-equipped computer lab and LCD projector auditorium, while plans are afoot to set up a modern swimming pool, a horse-riding club and a shooting range.

Col. B.S. Rathore will be the first principal of this school. (IANS)