Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010752350400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

State submits report on Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

Meera Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has submitted a detailed report to the National University of Educational Planning and Administration for implementing the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday.

Senior officials of the School Education Department say the State is well equipped to partner the Centre in implementating the scheme.

In mid-2007, representatives of the National University of Educational Planning and Administration visited Chennai and briefed officials of the School Education Department about the programme and the role of States.

States were asked to send a status report on the number of schools and students and infrastructure requirement.

After the Department sent the report recently, the NUEPA team wrote back, saying Tamil Nadu was one of the first States to compile and submit the data.

The RMSA, a Central government scheme, is aimed at universalising access to and improving the quality of secondary education.

A total of Rs.20,120 crore has been allocated for the scheme during the 11th Plan. States have been set a target of achieving a General Enrolment Ratio of 75 per cent for classes IX-X in 5 years.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which has significantly increased enrolment at elementary school, was launched eight years ago.

The demand for secondary education must have grown during these years. Building the infrastructure required will be among the biggest challenges, officials say. The funds for the project will be shared by the Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25, according to Arun Kumar Rath, Secretary, School Education and Literacy, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development). For the north-eastern States, it will be 90:10.

Speaking to The Hindu on telephone, Mr. Rath said the scheme was aimed at improving the quality of secondary education, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers and providing universal access to secondary education by 2017.