About the scheme

• Samagra Shiksha is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12. The scheme has been prepared with the broader goal of improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes.
• It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
• The Integrated Scheme envisages the ‘school’ as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to senior secondary levels.
• It was introduced in the Union Budget, 2018-19.

Objectives

• The major objectives of the Scheme are
  • Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students;
  • Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education;
  • Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education;
  • Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions;
  • Promoting Vocationalisation of education and
  • Support States in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009;

Major Features

• The major features of Samagra Shiksha for improving the access, infrastructure and quality of education throughout the country are:
  • Universalising access to quality education by provision for new/ upgradation of schools from pre-primary to senior secondary level and strengthening of existing schools including provision of barrier free access for Divyang children.
  • Support for mainstreaming of out of school children extended from elementary level to children in the age group of 16-19 years through open schooling.
  • Provision of upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) to provide residential and schooling facilities upto Class-XII. Provision of Incinerator and sanitary pad vending machines in all girls’ hostels.
  • Provision of free textbooks to all children and free uniforms to all girls, SC, ST and BPL boys at elementary level including primers/textbooks for tribal languages with bridging materials.
  • Residential schools/hostels named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas in hilly terrain, small and sparsely populated areas for children without adult protection who are in need of shelter and care.
  • Support for NIPUN Bharat Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy through provision of TLM upto ₹ 500 per child per annum, ₹150 per teacher for teacher manuals and resources, ₹ 10-20 lakh per district for assessment, Teacher training on FLN.
  • Self-Defence training for girls under ‘Rani Laxmibai Atma Raksha Prashikshan’ and amount for the same has been increased from ₹ 3000 to ₹ 5000 per month.

Why in News?

• The Ministry of Education has released achievements of Samagra Shiksha during 2018 to 2022.

Reference:

1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1847872