Nishant Saxena
In a recent Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting, the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Uttar Pradesh announced a significant rise in fund allocation for the upcoming academic year (2023–24) compared to the previous year (2022–23). The SSA is an integrated scheme aimed at achieving universal elementary education through community ownership of the school system.
For the academic year 2023–24, the SSA has been granted a total of Rs 12,744.4 crore. Out of this allocation, Rs 11,525.3 crore is designated for elementary education, Rs 996.27 crore for secondary education, and Rs 222.76 crore for teacher education.
According to a senior official from the education department, the increased funding reflects the Union Ministry of Education’s trust and confidence in Uttar Pradesh’s educational efforts. The state’s successful execution of various initiatives, programs, and innovative practices to enhance educational quality, improve outcomes, and leverage technology will further intensify in the coming academic year.
The allocated budget for SSA will be utilized across several areas to implement initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education. Under the “Access and Retention” category, Rs 824 crore has been sanctioned for civil works, including strengthening existing schools, repairing dilapidated buildings, installing solar panels, electrifying schools, and constructing new schools.
For “quality education,” an approved budget of Rs 1,907 crore has been allocated. This includes procuring 8,778 tablets for digital learning, establishing 22,000 smart classrooms, setting up 3,669 ICT labs, conducting assessment tests to measure learning outcomes, providing library books, and implementing experiential learning programs.
A total of Rs 263 crore has been sanctioned for early childhood care and education (ECCE), which will be utilized for teaching-learning materials, outdoor play equipment, and child-friendly furniture. Additionally, Rs 96 crore has been allocated for “sports and physical education,” focusing on providing sports equipment and promoting physical education among primary and upper-primary students.
Under the “Gender and Equity” category, a grant of Rs 1776.5 crore has been sanctioned. This includes the construction of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), stipends for girls directly transferred to their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and self-defense training for girls.
For secondary education, an approved budget of Rs 996.27 crore has been allocated. This includes the introduction of vocational education in schools, with a fund allocation of Rs 8.4 crore for 350 smart classrooms.
Furthermore, Rs 222.7 crore has been earmarked for teacher education, focusing on strengthening physical infrastructure and providing capacity-building training for 400,000 teachers in grades 1 to 5.
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