ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

The target of universalising elementary education has been divided into three broad parameters i.e. universal access, universal retention and universal achievement during the Eighth Five Year Plan.

SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (SSA)
The scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was launched in 2001. The goals of SSA are as follows : (i) All 6-14 age children in school/EGS (Education Guarantee Scheme) Centre/Bridge course by 2005. (ii) Bridge all gender and social category gaps at primary stage by 2007 and at elementary education level by 2010. (iii) Universal retention by 2010.

The assistance under the programme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was on a 85:15 sharing arrangement during the Ninth plan, 75:25 sharing arrangement during the tenth plan, and 50:50 sharing thereafter between the central Government and the state Government.

The SSA covers all states and Union Territories and reaches out to 19.4 crore children in 12.3 lakh habitations.

During 2005-06, the SSA approved 35306 new schools, appointment of 156610 new teachers, construction of 34262 school buildings, 141886 additional class rooms, free text books for 6.12 crore children and annual in-service training to 3252785 teachers for all 600 districts.

DISTRICT PRIMARY EDUCATION PROGRAMME
The District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) is a special thrust and a new initiative to achieve Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE). The programme seeks to operationalise the strategy of UEE through district specific planning with emphasis on decentralised management, participatory processes, empowerment and capacity building at all levels. The programme is implemented through the State level registered societies.

The programme aims at providing access to primary education for all children, reducing primary dropout rates to less than 10 per cent increasing learning achievement of primary school students by 25 per cent and reducing the gender and social gap to less than five per cent.

DPEP is a Centrally-sponsored scheme with Eighty five per cent of the project cost is shared by Government of India (GOI) and 15 per cent by the concerned State Government. Both the Central share and State share are passed on to State Implementation Societies directly as grant.

DPEP at its peak was operational in 273 districts in 18 states. It is now in existence in only 17 districts in the 2 states viz. Rajasthan and Orissa.

OPERATION BLACKBOARD
The Operation Blackboard Scheme launched in 1987-88, aims at providing essential facilities (two teachers and teaching learning equipment) in all primary schools in the country in a phased manner. The scheme was expanded during 1993-94 to provide third teacher to primary schools with enrolment exceeding 100 and to cover upper primary schools through provision of additional teachers and teaching learning equipments. The scheme provides 100 per cent Central assistance for teaching learning equipment and for salaries of teachers during the Plan period. Construction of school buildings is States’ responsibility.