The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal of Department of School Education and Literacy.
The department suggested to formulate an Integrated Scheme on School Education by subsuming Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2020.
An estimated allocation of Rs. 75,000 crore over the period was approved at the meeting yesterday, a 20% increase over the current allocation
The department suggested to formulate an Integrated Scheme on School Education by subsuming Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2020.
Objectives of the Scheme
- Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education from nursery to senior secondary stage
- Improving the quality of school education by focussing on the two T's - Teacher and Technology.
- Providing quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students
- Bridging social and gender gaps in school education
- Promoting vocationalization of education
- Implementing Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
- Strengthening and upgrading State Councils for Educational Research and Training (SCERTs)/State Institutes of Education and District Institutes for Education and Training (DIET) as nodal agencies for teacher training
Features of the scheme
- The scheme will equip the children with varied skills and knowledge essential for their holistic development and prepare them for the world of work or higher education in the future.
- Optimal utilization of budgetary allocations will be led.
- It would provide a holistic approach to education with the inclusion of senior secondary levels and pre-school levels in support for School education for the first time.
- Quality of education will be focused on by improving the learning outcomes and enhanced capacity building of teachers.
- Use of digital technology in education will be promoted through smart classrooms, digital boards and DTK channels. Specific provision will be made for Swachhta activities - support 'SwachhVidyalaya'. The quality of infrastructure in Government Schools will be improved.
- An enhanced commitment will be given to 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' besides upgrading of KGBVs from class VI-VIII to class XII. There will be an emphasis on 'Kaushal Vikas' in schools and support for 'Khelo India' - provision for sports and physical equipment.
Background
The scheme comes in the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s vision of Sabko Shiksha, Achhi Shiksha. It aims to support the States in universalizing access to school education from classes pre-nursery to XII across the country,An estimated allocation of Rs. 75,000 crore over the period was approved at the meeting yesterday, a 20% increase over the current allocation
CCEA Decision
- The CCEA has approved the continuation of a credit guarantee fund for education loans, which would also increase the ceiling of eligible loan amounts from the existing Rs 4 lakh to Rs7.5 lakh.
- Under the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana, the government will now take care of the entire employer contribution to social security schemes meant for new formal employees for a period of three years from the date of joining.
Expected Questions
Under the Integrated Scheme on School Education, which of the following schemes will be subsumed?
a. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
b. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
c. Beti Padhao Beti Bachao
d. a and c
e. a and b
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the continuation of a credit guarantee fund for education loans and raised the ceiling of eligible loan amounts from the existing Rs 4 lakh to
a. Rs 7 lakh
b. Rs 7.25 lakh
c. Rs 8 lakh
d. Rs7.5 lakh
e. Rs 8.5 lakh
