Giving more focus on access and quality, the government has increased the outlay for its flagship programme Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan (SSA) by nearly Rs 3,000 crore this year.
While last year's outlay of SSA was Rs 24,124 crore, the government fixed the outlay at Rs 27,042 crore for the current financial year, sources in HRD Ministry told PTI.
Bigger states, which are also educationally backward, continued to be the focus area under the SSA which aims to achieve universalisation of elementary education.
These states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, will get bulk of the outlay.
As per the norms, the Centre will provide 60 per cent of the funds while states will give 40 per cent matching grants. Last year the ratio was 65 to 35 between the Centre and the states. However, the Centre will give 90 per cent grants under SSA for the Northeastern states.
While maximum amount of Rs 4,294.54 crore will be spent in Bihar, Rs 3,870.25 crore is meant for Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, Rs 2,218.45 crore will be spent in Madhya Pradesh while Rs 2,167.62 crore will be spent in West Bengal.
The major components under SSA are opening up new primary and upper primary schools in remote area, appointment of teachers and starting Learning Enhancement Programme with focus on quality and equity.
The exact central budgetary support will be clear after Parliament passes the budget. Last year, the Central support was Rs 13,100 crore under SSA.
The SSA has started Learning Enhancement Programme as a special component in recent years after it was found that quality was a matter of concern in the programme.
The government had earmarked a special amount last year under the SSA for the Learning Enhancement Programme.
Some states have started Activity Based Learning (ABL) and other programmes with focus on improving reading and writing abilities of students.
The steps assume significance in view of poor level of competence of children found by various surveys. Besides ABL, states like Punjab have started 'Padho' programme under which reading skills are given importance. Similarly, states including Madhya Pradesh have started Learning Enhancement Programmes with the help certain NGOs.
