Coming up soon: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Version 2.0

"School Chalen Hum" now going to be "Secondary School Chalen Hum"

Govt to universalise secondary education- The Times of India: "NEW DELHI: The way government programmes go, it could simply be the most gigantic one ever in the field of education, bigger than even the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). A firm beginning has been made, complete with a detailed proposal by the HRD ministry sent to the Planning Commission late last week, for universalising secondary education in the country.

Almost on the lines of the SSA (the Centre’s share will be 75%, but 90% for special category states; a state’s share 25%, only 10% for special category states), the new scheme to be implemented in a “mission mode—time-bound targets, clear definition of responsibility at various levels and close monitoring’’— would entail a total expenditure of Rs 81,327 crore during the 11th Plan (2007 to 2012). This includes Rs 65,063 crore as the Centre’s share and Rs 16,264 crore as the states’ share. In addition, the Centre would spend Rs 10,450 crore to augment Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas. Thus, the Centre’s overall contribution in the Plan period would be Rs 75,513 crore.

It is estimated that due to the success of SSA, nearly 1.1 crore additional children would be knocking on the doors of secondary schools by 2007 and hence the need to universalise secondary education. In its proposal, HRD has fixed specific targets of the mission which include raising gross enrolment ratio (GER) for the secondary-school going group (14-18 years) from 37.5% (2002-03) to at least 50% by 2011-12; eliminating gender and social disparities and minimising rural-urban disparity; bringing down the pupilteacher ratio at the secondary stage to 25 and having 100% trained teachers; improving pass percentage (X & XII) to around 75%; one lab each of physics, chemistry and biology; 100% enrolment for girls as well as separate toilets for them; I-T infrastructure in all schools; facilities for disabled; and expansion of scholarship schemes."