Samagra Shiksha

Samagra Shiksha is a programme in the school education sector that extends from pre-school to class XII. This scheme is prepared with a broader goal of improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equitable learning outcomes and equal opportunities for schooling.

The Samagra Shiksha scheme contains the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Teacher Education (TE) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). This scheme is launched for leveraging technology to manage and enhance efficient implementation of the centrally sponsored Integrated Scheme for School Education.

Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, a ‘PRABANDH’ system was enabled on the Shagun website where the States and UTs can view the status of GoI (Government of India) releases, coverage as per UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education), approved outlays, school wise gaps, school wise list of approvals, cancellations in approvals, etc. Under the PRABANDH’ system, the State or UTs can submit online monthly progress reports, financial and physical.

Objectives of Samagra Shiksha 

• Providing quality education and enhancing the learning outcomes of students. 
• Bridging the gender and social gaps in school education.
• Ensuring inclusion and equity at every level of school education. 
• Ensuring basic minimum standards in schooling provisions.
• Promotion of vocationalisation of education. 
• Supporting states to implement the right of children to compulsory and free education under the Right to Education Act, 2009. 
• To strengthen and upgrade State Institutes of Education or SCERTs and DIET as nodal agencies for teacher training.

Features of Samagra Shiksha 

The features of the Samagra Shiksha scheme are as follows:

A holistic approach to education

School education is treated holistically in perpetuity from Pre-school to Class 12. This scheme includes pre-school levels and senior secondary levels in school education for the first time.

Administrative reform

A unified and single administrative structure leads to a harmonised implementation and flexibility to States for prioritising their interventions is adopted under the scheme. This scheme aims at establishing an integrated administration system that looks at ‘school’ as a continuum.

Focus on Quality of Education

This scheme aims at enhancing and improving the quality of education by focusing on the two T’s, i.e. Teachers and Technology and capacity building of the School Heads and Teachers. It supports Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan for promoting Maths and Science learning in schools and Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat Programme for developing foundational skills at the primary level.

This scheme focuses on strengthening the Teacher Education Institutions like the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET) and State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to improve the quality of prospective teachers. The nodal institution will be the SCERT for pre-service and in-service teacher training to make training need-based and dynamic. The Samagra Shiksha scheme will provide library grants for all schools ranging from Rs.5,000 to Rs.20,000.

Focus on Digital Education

The Samagra Shiksha scheme supports ‘Operation Digital Board’ in all secondary schools over a period of 5 years for ease in understanding and revolutionising education. Technology-based learning classrooms to become flipped classrooms. This scheme enhances the usage of digital technology in education through digital boards, smart classrooms and DTH channels and strengthening digital initiatives like Shagun and UDISE+. It also aims to strengthen ICT infrastructure from upper primary to higher secondary level in schools.

Strengthening of Schools

Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, enhanced transport facilities to school children across classes from I to VIII for facilitating universal access to schools are provided. The composite school grant is increased from Rs.14,500-50,000 to Rs.25,000-Rs.1,00,000 allocated on the basis of school enrolment. This scheme makes specific provision for ‘Swachhta’ activities to support ‘Swachh Vidyalaya’ and improve the infrastructure quality in Government Schools.

Focus on Girl Education

The Samagra Shiksha scheme upgraded Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from Class 6-8 to Class 6-12. It provides self-defence training for girls from the upper primary to the senior secondary stage and commitment to the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ initiative.

Focus on Inclusion

Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, uniforms allotted under the RTE Act is enhanced from Rs.400 to Rs.600 per annum per child and textbooks enhanced from Rs.150/250 to Rs.250/400 per annum per child. The energised textbooks are introduced. The allocation for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) is also increased from Rs.3,000 to Rs.3,500 per annum per child. A stipend of Rs.200 per month for girls with special needs is provided from Classes 1 to 12.

Focus on Skill Development

The exposure to Vocational Skills at the upper primary level would be extended under this scheme. The vocational education for Class 9 to Class 12 as integrated with the curriculum to be made more industry-oriented and practical. This scheme will reinforce the emphasis on the ‘Kaushal Vikas’ scheme.

Focus on Sports and Physical Education

Sports Education will be an integral part of the curriculum. All schools will receive sports equipment at the cost of Rs.5,000 for primary schools, Rs.10,000 for upper primary schools and Rs.25,000 for secondary and senior secondary schools for inculcating and emphasising the relevance of sports.

Focus on Regional Balance

This scheme will promote balanced educational development and provide preference to the LWE affected districts, Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs), Border areas, Special Focus Districts (SFDs) and the 117 aspirational districts which are identified by Niti Aayog.

Benefits of Samagra Shiksha 

The Samagra Shiksha scheme will help improve the transition rates across different school education levels and aid in promoting universal access to children for completing school education. The integration of Teacher Education will facilitate effective linkages and convergence between various support structures in school education through interventions such as innovations in pedagogy, unified training calendar, mentoring and monitoring, etc. This scheme will enable school education to reap the benefits of technology and widen access to quality education across all States and UTs, and all sections of society.