More developmental initiative by Government
A promising future comes with quality education. In line with its motto of ‘Sabko Shiksha Achchi Shiksha’ or ‘Quality education for all’, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved an Integrated Scheme for School Education.
The scheme will subsume Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education for 2 years from 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2020.
Rs. 75,000 crore would be spent on it.which is a 20% increase over the current allocations.
The scheme aims to provide inclusive and equitable quality education.from nursery to senior secondary stage.
The main emphasis of the scheme is on improving quality of school education by focusing on 2 Ts..Teacher and Technology.
The scheme aims to enhance learning outcomes of students bridging social and gender gaps in school education ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions and promoting vocationalisation of education.
Under the scheme, the Centre would support states in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
The scheme would benefit students through greater use of digital technology in education through smart classrooms digital boards and DTK channels.
Quality of infrastructure in government schools would improve and there would be a specific provision for swachhta activities.Support ‘Swachh Vidyalaya’
From Class 6th itself, ‘Kaushal Vikas’ would be introduced in schools to equip children with varied skills and knowledge for their holistic development.
Educationally Backward Blocks, Left Wing Extremism affected states, Special Focus Districts, Border Areas and the 115 Aspirational Districts will get preference under the scheme.
Education of the girl child would also be a key focus area under the scheme as the ambit of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidhyalayas would expand from Class 6th to 8th to upto Class 12th.
To increase access to affordable education loans for students, the CCEA gave its nod for continuation of Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme and Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme.
Under it, Rs. 6600 crore would be spent over 3 years till March 2020 during which education loans would be extended to 10 lakh students.
The Cabinet has approved certain modifications to the previous versions of the schemes.
In order to take the benefits to more students the ceiling on the loan amount has been re-fixed at Rs. 7.5 lakh higher than the average loan size of Rs. 4 lakh.
The moratorium period for loan repayment by students would extend to one year beyond the completion of their course.
During this period government would bear the interest burden.
A dashboard would be put in place for bettering monitoring of the scheme.
The CCEA decisions are a step in the direction of improving the quality of education integrating it with skill development and making it more inclusive.