Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: A Programme for Universal Elementary Education

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: A Programme for Universal Elementary Education

SSA is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to cover the entire country and address the needs of 192 million children in 1.1 million habitations.

The programme seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grants.

Existing schools with inadequate teaching strength are provided with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers is being strengthened by extensive training, grants for developing teaching-learning materials and strengthening of the academic support structure at a cluster, block and district level. SSA seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills. SSA has a special focus on girl’s education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital divide.

Here in Haryana, SSA with its aim of achieving all-round, quality elementary education has now introduced taekwondo and archery as a sports discipline with the aim to provide opportunity to all ST students specially girl students, emphasizing on the importance of games and sports. Under this flagship programme, the two disciplines have been introduced in Government schools, for the first time, since July 2010 in every district of the state. All together, 44 schools with a capacity of 50 students each are benefiting from these two disciplines. It is expected that in future, a greater number of schools will be introducing these two disciplines, providing opportunities to more students. SSA has indeed taken a step further towards useful and quality education.

WHAT IS SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN

A programme with a clear time frame for universal elementary education.

A response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country.

An opportunity for promoting social justice through basic education.

An effort at effectively involving the Panchayati Raj Institutions, school Management Committees, Village and Urban Slum level Education Committees, Parents’ Teachers’ Associations, Mother Teacher Associations, Tribal Autonomous Councils and other grass root level structures in the management of elementary schools.

An expression of political will for universal elementary education across the country.

A partnership between the Central, State and the local government.

An opportunity for States to develop their own vision of elementary education.