The Hindu : National : “Better access to schools by 2010”

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Friday, Feb 15, 2008
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National

“Better access to schools by 2010”

Special Correspondent

Arjun Singh

NEW DELHI: Children can have access to secondary schools within five km and to higher secondary schools within seven to 10 km of their homes by 2010. This is the target set for the third year of the 11th Plan, according to the Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh.

Chairing a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, Mr. Singh said universalisation of access to secondary education would be ensured by the end of the 11th Plan period. Expansion of secondary education would involve upgradation of physical infrastructure, recruitment and training of teachers and extensive use of ICT, besides incentives to girls and weaker sections, including the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the minorities, he said.

According to an official release, the Minister said other important components of universalisation included strengthening of existing schools to achieve prescribed norms, expansion of the capacity of existing schools, upgradation of higher primary schools to secondary level, expansion of facilities for open distance learning and stepping up allocation to secondary education from 0.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product to 1.5 per cent of the GDP.

Expansion of secondary education would involve upgradation of physical infrastructure such as classrooms, playgrounds, libraries, science laboratories, toilet, drinking water, electricity and telephone facilities besides recruitment and training of teachers and incentives to girls of weaker sections, curriculum revision and examination reforms.

A detailed presentation outlining the key objectives of the expansion of secondary education and the availability and access was made by the Ministry at the meeting.

The members were told that as a follow up of the Prime Minister’s Independence Day announcement, 6000 new high quality schools would be opened — one each in every block — of which 2,500 would be run on public-private partnership models. There was also a proposal for establishment of one girls’ hostel with a capacity of 100 each in Educationally Backward Blocks.

The members sought special attention to reduce drop out rates, especially for girls, creation of social and parental awareness, accessible and affordable education and emphasis on moral and value education and yoga, among other things.

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