Ensuring Universalization of Elementary and Secondary Education

The updated information provided by the States/UTs reveals that 17.24 lakh children in 6-14 years age group are out of school as in 2014. States having the most out of school children are, Rajasthan (2.98 lakh), Jharkhand (2.44 lakh), Bihar (1.81 lakh), Karnataka (1.81 lakh), Haryana (0.92 lakh) and Assam (0.88 lakh). An amount of Rs.339.97 crore has been sanctioned to States/UTs under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme, for providing special training centres for such children to impart flexible bridge courses, to enable them to mainstream into schools, subsequently. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) are programmes launched by the Central Government for ensuring universalisation of elementary and secondary education respectively. As a result of these schemes, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 101.36% at primary level, 89.33% at upper primary level and 76.64% at secondary level as per UDISE 2013-14. Under these programmes, there is provision for a biannual Joint Review Mission (JRM), by independent experts from the field of education and education related areas, including external aid partners, to review the programmes. Both the programmes are also audited annually by chartered accountants and also undergo statutory audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Corrective action on the lacunae pointed out, is undertaken and the compliance report reviewed by the next round of audit.