Universalisation of quality education under Samagra Shiksha scheme: Govt tells Rajya Sabha

New Delhi [India], December 7 (ANI): The Department of School Education and Literacy with effect from 2018-19 has launched an Integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education, Samagra Shiksha, the Minister of State for Education Annpurna Devi informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The Minister said the scheme has now been aligned with the recommendations of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to ensure that all children have access to quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which should take care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and make them active participants in the learning process.
Under Samagra Shiksha, the Minister said provision has been made to upgrade/converge the KGBVs/Girls' Hostel, as feasible, up to the senior secondary level. As far as the public financing by the central government is concerned, the Budget estimate under Samagra Shiksha during 2022-23 is Rs 37,383.36 crore, an increase of 20.40 per cent from the revised estimate of Rs 31050.15 crore for the year 2021-22, she said
The major objectives of the Scheme are: (i) Support States and UTs in implementing the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020); (ii) Support States in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009; (iii) Focus on Early Childhood Care and Education; (iv) Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy; (v) Thrust on Holistic, Integrated, Inclusive and activity based Curriculum and Pedagogy to impart 21st century skills among the students; (vi) Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students; (vii) Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education; (viii) Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education; (ix) Strengthening and up-gradation of State Councils for Educational Research and Training (SCERTs)/State Institutes of Education and District Institutes for Education and Training (DIET) as nodal agency for teacher training; (x) Ensuring safe, secure and conducive learning environment and maintenance of standards in schooling provisions and (xi) Promoting vocational education.
Under Samagra Shiksha, various interventions have been targeted for girls, which include the opening of schools in the neighbourhood to make access easier for girls, free uniforms and text-books to girls up to Class VIII, additional teachers and residential quarters for teachers in remote/hilly areas, the appointment of additional teachers including women teachers, stipend to CWSN girls from class I to class XII , separate toilets for girls, teachers' sensitization programmes to promote girls participation, gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials including textbooks etc, the Minister said.
Further, under Samagra Shiksha, special state-specific projects for varied interventions under equity are emphasized for enhancing access, retention and quality for girls by promoting enrolment drives, retention and motivation camps, gender sensitization modules etc. Such projects include life skills, awareness programmes, incinerators, sanitary pad vending machines etc.
To reduce gender gaps at all school education levels, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) are provided under Samagra Shiksha. KGBVs are residential schools from class VI to XII for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and Below Poverty Line (BPL). The KGBVs are set up in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) of a State/UT where the female rural literacy rate is below the national average, she added. (ANI)