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Centre contemplates merging SSA and RMSA

Last Updated 27 June 2017, 18:30 IST

The Centre is contemplating merging two of its flagship schemes —Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)--into one.

The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry is examining the feasibility of merging the two schemes in view of the suggestions that the move would help work out a unified action plan to improve the quality and standards of the school education keeping with the common mandate of the two scheme—universalisation of education.

“Ministry is contemplating on the possibility of merging the SSA and RMSA. Official concerned has been asked to make a concept note,” official sources told DH.

The move is being considered as it may help work out a mechanism for an effective outcome-based monitoring of the implementation of the school education scheme. It is also expected to ensure optimum utilisation of the funds and resources due to the convergence of the two schemes, they added.

The SSA, launched in 2000-2001, is a flagship programme of the Centre for universalising elementary education in India. Its overall goals include universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in education and enhancement of learning levels of children.

About 19.67 crore children are enrolled in 14.5 lakh elementary schools across the country with 66.27 lakh teachers deployed under the SSA.

The RMSA, launched in 2009, seeks to enhance access to the secondary education and improve its quality.

“The States currently have two separate Societies to implement the SSA and RMSA. It is felt that the merging of the two schemes would help utilise the available manpower and resources more effectively. This would lead to better implementation of the provisions under the two programmes and achieve the targets within a unified framework and mechanism,” sources said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also set in motion a process for a comprehensive review of the SSA and RMSA schemes by independent agencies. 

“The outcome of the review of the two schemes will be taken into account at the time of taking a final decision to merge the two school education schemes. States will also be consulted for their views on the move,” the official said.

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(Published 27 June 2017, 18:29 IST)

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