Education in India: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Education in India is a constantly developing sector, with the government actively promoting primary, secondary, higher, and adult education. With the new Education policy of 2020, the government has reaffirmed its intention of ensuring every student receives quality and sustainable education. Their aim of making education universally available comes with the formation and implementation of schemes such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was launched in 2001-2002 in partnership with the state and central governments and is anchored by the GoI and MHRD - Ministry of Human Resource Development. It is considered the successor of the District Primary Education Programme of 1993-94. SSA is the Government of India’s flagship program to achieve UEE - Universalization of Elementary Education, as mandated by the 86th amendment to the Constitution of India, making free and compulsory Education for the Children of 6-14 years age group a Fundamental Right. The SSA’s core objectives are Equality, Access and Retention, Infrastructure Development, and Providing Quality Education. The scheme targets education for students between the ages of 6 to 14.

Implementation of the scheme involves the convergence of many ministries and schemes that will contribute to the SSA achieving its objective. It requires the contributions of:

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and State Health Departments Contributions of the MHFW and SHDs are needed to provide services to the Model Cluster School and to conduct regular general health check-ups through Government Hospitals, referral hospitals, or Primary Health Centres.

2. Ministry of Human Resource Development Contributions of the MHRD are needed to help extend the Mid-day Meal Scheme to all eligible schools, facilitate age-appropriate admissions, and promote and handle the National Institute of Open Schooling.

3. Ministry of Women and Child Development Contributions of the MWCD are needed to facilitate preschool learning and development and extend Integrated Child Development Scheme-based benefits to enrolled children in the schools.

4. State Public Works Departments Contributions of State PWDs are needed to design school buildings as per requirements.

5. Department of Science and Technology Contributions of the DST are needed to provide geospatial technologies for school mapping and social mapping exercises at the grass root level.

6. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of TA

Contributions of the MoSJ&E and MoTA are needed to converge funds to build residential facilities.

The SSA scheme has multiple advantages that have significantly impacted its concerned stakeholders: those seeking education and those providing it. Students availing of the scheme gain access to free and compulsory elementary education, quality basic education to a broad spectrum of society irrespective of religion, caste, or socio-economic background, textbooks and school uniforms, and a computer education to bridge the digital gap. Teachers who teach under the SSA receive mentoring and vocational courses for improving teaching skills and a regular appraisal system as support. Educational Institutes also receive support under the SSA in the form of improved infrastructure with additional classrooms, upscaled and hygienic toilets, drinking water supply, and grants for school maintenance costs.

The scheme, however, saw the following roadblocks to achieving its objectives:

1. Ignorance by parents

Despite the government’s efforts to offer free and compulsory education, many people living in remote areas still ignore sending their children to school.

2. Lack of coordination

A lack of coordination between the local community and the educational institutions leads to issues in universalizing elementary education.

3. Indifferent attitudes

There is an air of indifferent attitude by the higher authorities, leading to a lack of effort in the universalization of elementary education.

4. Lack of funds

There is an inadequacy of funds which leads to a lack of learning resources and materials.

5. Poverty

Even though education may be free, there are still some expenses parents have to incur, and those belonging to a poor social class may therefore refrain from sending their children to school.

The SSA scheme is considered to have failed by 2007 for being unable to meet its objective and was extended till 2020. It was finally revamped under the National Education Policy of 2020 as the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. While conceptually strong, the scheme failed to be implemented effectively.