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Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

By : Author Desk Updated : 2025-03-29 12:11:48

SAMAGRA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN

Recommendation: A Parliamentary Standing Committee has asked the Ministry of Education to fix problems with West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu about the delay in releasing funds for the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) program. Amount Due: The total amount owed is over ?4,000 crore, with specific amounts of ?1,000 crore for West Bengal, ?859.63 crore for Kerala, and ?2,152 crore for Tamil Nadu. Report Date: The committee presented the report in the Rajya Sabha on March 26, 2025. KEY ISSUES RAISED
  • Tamil Nadu and Fund Stoppage: The issue with Tamil Nadu is about stopping SSA funds after the state refused to follow the three-language rule under the National Education Policy (NEP) and did not agree to the PM-SHRI school program.
  • Committee’s Concern: The committee is worried about the delay in releasing SSA funds to states that have not agreed to the PM-SHRI program, especially since the amounts are large.
COMMITTEE’S OBSERVATION
  • PM SHRI vs SSA: The committee pointed out that 33 out of 36 states and union territories have signed up for the PM SHRI program and are using it to improve schools based on NEP. However, the committee believes that SSA is an older program and should not be delayed just because another program is not being followed.
  • Right to Education (RTE) Act: SSA is directly related to the Right to Education Act, which ensures free education for children aged 6-14 years. The committee stressed that SSA should not be skipped because of policies like NEP since SSA ensures the right to education.
IMPACT OF FUND WITHHOLDING
  • Educational Issues: Delaying SSA funds has caused problems in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, which are known for their good educational results. These states have a higher enrollment rate than the national average.
  • Teacher Salaries and School Maintenance: Due to the delay in funds, states have had to use their own money to pay teachers, provide teacher training, and maintain schools.
  • FY 2024-25 Allocation: Tamil Nadu was supposed to receive ?3,586 crore for SSA in 2024-25, with ?2,152 crore coming from the central government. Since the funds were not released, it has affected teacher salaries and resources, especially in rural areas.
COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS The committee recommended that the Ministry of Education should release the pending SSA funds to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal as soon as possible to prevent problems with teacher salaries, school facilities, and teacher training.
  • Reevaluation of Funding: The committee also asked the Ministry to reassess how SSA funds are given out to make sure no state is treated unfairly for not adopting NEP 2020 or the PM SHRI program.
WHAT IS PM SHREE SCHEME?
  • Objective: The PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme was started under NEP 2020 to set up 14,500 model schools focusing on:
    • All-round education (learning through experience and questions).
    • Skills for the 21st century.
    • Environment-friendly buildings (green designs, water conservation, recycling).
    • Competency-based assessments instead of rote memorization.
KEY FEATURES
  • Improved infrastructure: Labs, libraries, and art rooms.
  • Use of technology: Smart classrooms and digital learning tools.
  • Holistic learning: Play-based learning for young kids and flexible teaching methods.
  • Regular checks: A framework to maintain high school standards.
Budget: The total budget for the scheme is ?27,360 crore over 5 years (2022-2027), with ?18,128 crore coming from the central government. WHAT IS SAMAGRA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN?
  • Purpose: SSA is a central government program aimed at providing quality education from preschool to higher secondary levels.
  • Focus Areas:
    • Developing school infrastructure.
    • Teacher training and hiring.
    • Improving learning outcomes.
    • Providing inclusive education for disadvantaged groups.
Connection to RTE Act: SSA supports the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which guarantees free education for children aged 6-14 years.   Note: Connect with Vajirao & Reddy Institute to keep yourself updated with latest UPSC Current Affairs in English. Note: We upload Current Affairs Except Sunday.