Samagra Shiksha launched to impart ‘Sabko Shiksha Achchi Shiksha’

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 8: Department of School Education and Literacy has launched the Samagra Shiksha in pursuance of the proposal of the Union Budget, 2018-19. Samagra Shiksha is an Integrated Scheme for School Education as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with effect from the year 2018-2019. This programme subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), RMSA (Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan) and TE (Teacher Education).

Samagra Shiksha is a programme mainly for the school sector starting from pre-school to class 12 and its objective is to ensure equitable education quality. The main objectives of Samagra Shiksha are (a) Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students (b) Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education (c) Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education (d) Promoting Vocationalisation of education (e) Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions (f) Support States in the implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009; and (g)Strengthening and up-gradation of SCERTs/State Institutes of Education and DIET as nodal agencies for teacher training.

The features of Samagra Shiksha are as follows -

• Provision for up-gradation of schools up-to senior secondary level and strengthening of
  school infrastructure as per norms.

• Composite school grant increased from Rs. 14,500-50,000 to Rs. 25,000-1 Lakh and 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.

• Annual grant for Library at the cost of Rs. 5,000/- for Primary School, Rs.13,000/- for
  composite Elementary school, Rs. 10,000/- for Secondary school (Class 9th & 10th),
  Rs.10,000/- for Senior Secondary school (Class 11th & 12th), Rs. 20,000/- for composite
  Senior Secondary school (Class 1st to 12th).

• Allocation for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs.
  3,500 per child per annum including a stipend of Rs. 200 per month for CWSN girls to be
  provided from Classes 1 to 12– earlier it was only for classes 9 to 12.

• Allocation for textbooks enhanced from Rs. 150/250 to Rs. 250/400 per child per annum.

• Allocation for uniforms enhanced from Rs. 400 to Rs. 600 per child per annum.

• Upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from Class 6-8 to Class 6-
  12.

• Enhanced use of digital technology in education through smart classrooms, digital boards
  and DTH channels.

• Strengthening Teacher Education Institutions like SCERTs and DIETs to improve the
  quality of teachers with SCERT as the nodal institution for in-service and pre-service
  teacher training.

The above information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Dr Satya Pal Singh in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.