In order to attain the objective of Universalisation of Elementary Education, the Government has enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 which provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6-14 years.  The RTE Act has come into force with effect from 1.4.2010.  Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which is the main vehicle for implementation of RTE Act also seeks to attain the objective of Universalisation of Elementary Education in the age group of 6-14 years in a time bound manner.  The target fixed vis-à-vis the achievements made under SSA during the 11th Plan periodare as under:

Activity Targets for 11th Plan Achievements during the first three years of 11th Plan (Till 31.12.2009 )
Opening of Primary Schools 20000 29850
Opening of Upper Primary Schools 70000 49920
Construction of Additional Classrooms 887000 631360
Drinking Water Facilities 68000 26209
Toilet Facilities 204000 83641
Teachers sanctioned 818831 181949

In order to strengthen and bring qualitative improvement in school education at Secondary/Senior Secondary stages the following three centrally sponsored schemes have been launched during the current 11th Five Year Plan;

(i)                 Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan;

(ii)               Schemes for setting up of 6000 Model Schools at Block Level as benchmark of excellence; and

(iii)             Scheme for construction and running of Girls’ Hostels for Students of Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools.

The Government have fixed target of achieving 80% literacy, bridging the gender gap of 10 % and minimizing the social and regional disparities by 2012.  To achieve this goal, Government have launched Saakshar Bharat, a new variant of National Literacy Mission w.e.f. 1.10.2009.  During 2009-10 this programme was rolled out in 167 districts in 19 States to cover 3.83 crore non-literates in over 80,000 gram panchayats under basic literacy programme and to establish 81.007 adult education centres, one each in gram Panchayat, under Continuing Education component.  Grant-in-aid of Rs. 325.98 crore has been released to 19 States as firstinstalment of Government of India’s share.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Smt. D. Purandeswari in the LokSabha