Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is Government of India’s flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, as mandated by 86th amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right.
SSA is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to cover the entire country and address the needs of 192 million children in 1.1 million habitations.
The programme seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grants.
Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are provided with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers is being strengthened by extensive training, grants for developing teaching-learning materials and strengthening of the academic support structure at a cluster, block and district level.
SSA seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills. SSA has a special focus on girl’s education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital divide.

Features

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a programme for Universal Elementary Education. This programme is also an attempt to provide an opportunity for improving human capabilities to all children through provision of community -owned quality education in a mission mode. It is a response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country.

Main features

  1. Programme with a clear time frame for universal elementary education.
  2. A response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country.
  3. An opportunity for promoting social justice through basic education.
  4. A expression of political will for universal elementary education across the country.
  5. A partnership between the central, state and the local government.
  6. An opportunity for states to develop their own vision of elementary education.
  7. An effort at effective involving the Panchyati Raj Institutions, school management Committees, village and urban slum level Education Committees, parent’s Teachers’ Associations, Mother-Teacher Associations, Tribal Autonomous councils and other grassroots level structures in the management of elementary schools.

Aims

  1. To provide useful and elementary education for all children in the 6-14 age group.
  2. To bridge social, regional and gender gaps with the active participation of community in the management of schools.
  3. To allow children to learn about and master their natural environment in order to develop their potential both spiritually and materially.
  4. To inculcate value-based learning this allows children an opportunity to work for each other’s well being rather than to permit mere selfish pursuits.
  5. To realize the importance of Early Childhood Care and education and looks at the 0-14 age as a continuum.

Objectives

  1. All children in school. Education Guarantee Centre, Alternate School, ‘Back-to-School’ camp by 2003.
  2. All children complete five years of primary schooling by 2007.
  3. All children complete of elementary schooling by 2010.
  4. Focus on elementary education of satisfactory quality with emphasis on education for life.
  5. Bridge all gender and social category gaps at primary stage by 2007 and at elementary education level by 2010.
  6. Universal retention by 2010.

Aspects

  1. It provides a wide convergent frame work for implementation of Elementary Education schemes.
  2. It is also a programme with budget provision for strengthening vital areas to achieve universalisation of elementary education.