Education
HRD Minister’s Written Reply In The Lok Sabha On Samagra Sikhsha Abhiyan
The written reply of Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ that enlightens us about the Samagra Sikhsha Abhiyaan.
Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank,’ in a written reply informed the Lok Sabha about the Samagra Siksha Scheme that puts great emphasis on “Inclusive Education.”
Samagra Sikhsha will tie together the formerly running programs such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). The program seeks to embed inclusiveness and equitable education and will cover education from preschool to class 12.
The major initiatives under the scheme are:
(i) Universal Access including Infrastructure Development and Retention
(ii) Gender and Equity
(iii) Inclusive Education
(iv) Quality
(v) Financial support for Teacher Salary
(vi) Digital initiatives
(vii) Entitlements under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 including uniforms, textbooks etc.
(viii) Pre-school Education;
(ix) Vocational Education;
(x) Sports and Physical Education;
(xi) Strengthening of Teacher Education and Training
(xii) Monitoring of the scheme.
The foremost features of the initiative are as follows:
- Universalizing access to quality school education by an expansion of schooling facilities in the uncovered areas through up-gradation of schools up-to senior secondary level.
- Ensuring the availability of adequate infrastructure to ensure that schools conform to the prescribed norms.
- Annual Grant of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000/- per school for the strengthening of
Libraries. - Composite school grant of Rs. 25,000-1 Lakh to be allocated on the basis of school enrolment.
- Annual Grant for sports equipment at the cost of Rs. 5000 for Primary Schools, Rs. 10,000 for upper primary schools and up to Rs. 25,000 for secondary and senior secondary schools.
- Allocation for children with Special Needs (CwSN) of Rs. 3,500 per child per annum including a stipend of Rs. 200 per month for CWSN girls to be provided from Classes I to XII.
- Allocation for uniforms at the rate of Rs. 600 per child per annum.
- Allocation for textbooks at the rate of Rs. 250/400 per child per annum.
- Upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from Class 6-8 to Class 6-12.
- Strengthening Teacher Education Institutions like SCERTs and DIETs to improve the quality of teachers.
- Enhanced use of digital technology in education through smart classrooms, digital boards, and DTH channels.
- Support States & UTs for implementation of provisions of the RTE Act, including reimbursement under Section 12(1)(c) of the Act.
- Setting up of residential schools and hostels for difficult areas and for children in difficult circumstances.
Apart from these, the states and union territories have been given the approval to set up Youth and Eco Club in government schools in 2019-2020. Both youth clubs and the Eco clubs come will be built under the Samagra Sikhsha program.
Youth clubs will be responsible for developing essential life skills, building self-esteem and developing self-confidence and resilience while the Eco clubs will enshrine the habit of taking up meaningful activities and projects related to the environment.
The initiative of Rangotsav that was formulated to celebrated the rich cultural diversity of India and to promote experimental learning was was also a part of the honourable minister’s reply. Role Play competition, Band Competition, Bhasha Sangam and Folk dance competition are some of the important activities under Rangotsav.
Image courtesy- Pixabay