Odisha HRD

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan appropved by CCEA

January 3rd, 2009

Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=46321.

The CCEA today approved the implementation of a centrally sponsored scheme to universalise access to and improve quality of education at Secondary stage, called Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) during the 11th Five Year Plan.

As regards the Financing pattern and fund flow, Union Government shall bear 75% of the project expenditure during the 11th Five Year Plan, with 25% of the cost to be borne by State Governments. Sharing pattern will be 50:50 for the 12th five year plan. For both the 11th and 12th Plans, funding pattern will be 90:10 for North Eastern States. Rs.20,120 crore has been allocated for the Scheme during the 11th Five Year Plan.

The objective of the Scheme is:

• to achieve a General Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 75% for classes IX-X within 5 years by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of every habitation;

• to improve quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms;

• to remove gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, Universal access to secondary level education by 2017, i.e. by the end of 12th Five Year Plan and Universal retention by 2020.

Broad physical targets include improving the enrolment ratio for classes IX-X to 75% within 5 years from 52.26% as in 2005-06, providing facilities for estimated additional enrolment of 32.20 lakh by 2011-12 through, strengthening of about 44,000 existing secondary schools, opening 11,188 new secondary schools, appointment of 1.79 lakh additional teachers and construction of 80,500 additional classrooms.

Interventions approved include providing infrastructure in schools such as new classrooms with furniture, library, science laboratory, computer room, disabled friendly provisions etc, recruitment of additional teachers with emphasis on Science, Mathematics and English teachers, in service training of teachers, teaching aids such as ICT and special focus on SC/ST/Minorities Girls. Steps such as priority for opening or upgradation of schools in areas of SC/ST/minority/weaker section concentration and enrolment drives and special coaching classes in those areas are also envisaged under the scheme.

The Scheme will be implemented in a Mission mode, with a National Mission headed by the Union Minister for HRD and a Project approval Board headed by Secretary (School Education and Literacy) to appraise and approve state plans. Similarly, State Missions under Chief Ministers of the States/UTs will be set up.

The Scheme envisages development of State-specific norms and District will be the unit of planning. The district plan will be appraised and consolidated at the State level and the State plan will be appraised by the technical support group attached to the National Mission. The civil construction will be through School Management and Development Committee with representation from parents, Panchayati Raj Institutions and civil society.

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Entry Filed under: RMSA