Samagra Shiksha Scheme

Samagra Shiksha is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12. The scheme, launched in 2018, aims to enhance school effectiveness by ensuring equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes. It brings together three existing schemes: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE).

Objectives

The major objectives of the Scheme are:

Support States and UTs in implementing the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).
Support States in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009;
Focus on Early Childhood Care and Education.
Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
Thrust on Holistic, Integrated, Inclusive and activity based Curriculum and Pedagogy to impart 21st century skills among the students.
Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students;
Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education;
Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education;
Strengthening and up-gradation of State Councils for Educational Research and Training (SCERTs)/State Institutes of Education and District Institutes for Education and Training (DIET) as a nodal agency for teacher training.
Ensuring safe, secure and conducive learning environment and minimum standards in schooling provisions;
Promoting vocationalisation of education.

Major Features of Samagra Shiksha

Education for All Ages:

Education is seen as a journey from preschool to twelfth grade, with a unified approach across all levels.
Efforts are made to introduce pre-primary education and extend support to senior secondary levels for the first time.

Streamlined Administration:

A single administrative structure is proposed for efficient implementation.
States are given flexibility to prioritize interventions while viewing the education system as a seamless continuum.

Increased Funding:

Budgets are boosted with a focus on improving learning outcomes.
Grants are allocated based on performance and efforts to enhance quality.

Emphasis on Quality:

Prioritizing learning outcomes involves extensive teacher training and strengthening educational institutions.
Schools actively support libraries, emphasizing teacher capacity building and integrating technology.

Digital Education Focus:

Consolidating schools with the goal of improving quality, as well as enhancing infrastructure such as transportation and cleanliness, aims to create more efficient and welcoming environments for students.

Strengthening Schools:

Consolidating schools to improve quality and enhancing infrastructure, including transportation and cleanliness, aim to make schools more efficient and welcoming for students.

Empowering Girls:

Initiatives focus on empowering girls through education, including self-defense training and stipends.

Inclusive Education:

We’re taking measures to ensure inclusion by providing uniforms, textbooks, and support for children with specific needs.

Skill Development:

We integrate vocational skills into the curriculum from an early age, prioritizing practical training and ensuring relevance to industry needs.

Sports and Physical Education:

Sports education becomes a core part of the curriculum, with schools receiving equipment to promote physical activity.

Regional Development Focus:

We aim to balance educational development across regions, with a particular focus on underprivileged areas and aspirational districts.

Interventions

The major interventions, across all levels of school education, proposed under the scheme are:

Universal Access including Infrastructure Development and Retention.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
Gender and Equity.
Inclusive Education.
Quality and Innovation.
Financial support for Teacher Salary.
Digital initiatives.
RTE Entitlements including uniforms, textbooks etc.
Support for ECCE
Vocational Education
Sports and Physical Education
Strengthening of Teacher Education and Training
Monitoring
Programme Management; and
National Component.

Status of the Scheme

The program that began back in 2018 will now continue until March 31, 2026, with a significant financial commitment of Rs.2,94,283.04 crore. This includes a substantial portion of Rs.1,85,398.32 crore from the central government.