FUNDS NO PROBLEM IN IMPLEMENTATION
OF SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN:
DR. SANJAY PASWAN
The Minister of State
for Human Resource Development, Dr. Sanjay Paswan today assured
that funds would not be a problem in the implementation of the
Sarva Shiksha, the programme for universalisation of elementary
education. He was addressing the editors of newspapers and magazines
from all over the country who have assembled here for the Editors’
Conference on Social Sector Issues.
The Minister said
that during the tenth Plan, an allocation of Rs. 17,000 crore
has been made for SSA. As against Rs. 5443 crore approved last
year to the States and Union Territories, a sum of Rs. 9374 crore
has been approved this year uptill now. The Centre has, in fact,
committed its support to States beyond the tenth Plan, he said.
Stressing that states
such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa where the
number of out-of-school children is still high would have to work
hard to universalize elementary education, the Minister also showed
confidence that the goal of enrolling all children in 6-14 age
group in school and ensuring that all children in this age group
complete 5 years of primary education by 2007 and 8 years of education
by 2010, would be achieved. Some states in this category earlier
have made significant progress in the recent years, he said. SSA
covers the entire country and addresses the needs of 19.2 crore
children in 11 lakh habitations. 8.5 lakh existing primary and
upper primary schools and 33 lakh existing teachers are being
covered under the programme.
Dr. Paswan underlined
the role of media and the non-governmental sector in this massive
task. He said that while the government can provide the funds
for schools, teachers, training etc to ensure that schools exist
in the area, children go to school, teachers are available and
impart quality education, every citizen of India has to come forward
and contribute. He informed that under this programme, new schools
are being opened in habitations which do not have schooling facilities,
existing school's infrastructure is being strengthened by providing
additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant
and school improvement grant. Additional teachers are being provided
where required. To improve the quality of education the capacity
of existing teachers is to be enhanced by intensive training,
provision of grant for developing teaching-learning materials
and development of an academic support structure. SSA has a special
focus on girls and children of weaker sections. A number of initiatives,
including free textbooks, target these children under the programme.
SSA also seeks to provide computer education in rural areas also
to bridge the digital divide. Government of India has taken a
number of steps to improve teacher availability and teacher training
programmes for elementary education sector.
