Govt revises Sarva Siksha Abhiyan norms

The SSA, a major flagship programme of the Government to universalise elementary education in the country, will be the main vehicle for implementation of the RTE Act. The revised SSA norms, vetted by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), includes provision for teachers and classroom, support for academic supervision, research evaluation and monitoring and opening of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

New norms under the SSA for uniforms, transportation costs and residential schools to implement the combined RTE-SSA programme have also been included. The CCEA also approved revision of the funding pattern for the combined RTE-SSA programme between the Centre and the states in ratio of 65:35 and 90:10 for the eight North Eastern states.

The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under Finance Ministry had in July agreed to fund the sharing formula keeping in view demands of states for higher assistance from the Centre to implement the RTE Act which has come into force from April one this year.

There will be a requirement of Rs 2.31 lakh crore in the next five years for implementing the RTE Act which makes education a fundamental right of every child.