Universal Elementary Education - A Government Priority
The government is giving unprecedented priority to universal elementary education. It is therefore putting major financial and technical resources into this program.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan program is collectively supported by the World Bank, the European Commission and United Kingdom’s DFID; of these the World Bank is the single largest contributor. In the first phase of support, between 2003 and 2006, the World Bank contributed $500 million of the total program cost of $3.5 billion. World Bank lending for the program is on concessional terms, with no interest and a repayment period of 35 years, with the first ten years as a “grace” period when no repayment is required.
Over 7,000 NGOs are participating in the SSA. They are helping to provide alternative education programs or “bridge courses” to bring out-of-school children into the school system. They are also involved in monitoring the quality of education, capacity-building of Village Education Committees, and many function as reference groups advising States, Districts and Blocs.
The first phase of the program focused on improving access to schools for all primary age children, particularly for the hardest- to- reach communities, with a special focus on girls, children from disadvantaged communities, and those with special needs. It also supported training for teachers, monitoring and evaluation of outcomes, strengthening of financial management systems, and dissemination campaigns to mobilize communities in favor of education.
Progress in Primary Education
Two decades of focused programs in basic education have brought about a remarkable improvement in education indicators in India:
• Out of school children, most belonging to marginalized social groups, have been reduced from 25 million in 2003 to 9.6 million in 2005-06
• Net Enrolment Rate at primary level has risen from 68% in 1993 to 85% in 2005-06
• Transition Rates from the primary to the upper primary level have risen from 75 percent in 2002 to 83 percent in 2006.
• The gender gap has reduced. There are now 92 girls for every 100 boys in primary school
• The social gap has narrowed. By 2005-06, scheduled caste children made up over 18% of all primary school children, better reflecting their presence in the overall population. Children belonging to scheduled tribes made up over 9% of all primary school students.
Challenges Ahead
Primary Education
Despite these gains, the demand for education far exceeds supply at all levels, both in terms of access and quality. About 10 million primary age children remain out of school and social disparities persist. Some independent surveys have shown that half of all children in the 7-14 age group cannot read.
The key challenge ahead is to finish the “access agenda” while dramatically increasing focus on the quality of education provided. This requires more attention to classroom processes, basic reading skills in early grades, teacher quality and accountability, community or parent oversight, and better evaluation and assessment of learning outcomes.
Secondary Education
At the secondary level, both access and quality remain a challenge. Gross enrolment rates are around 40 percent. This is partly because children drop out after primary school and there is not enough emphasis on secondary education.
There are significant gaps between genders, social groups, urban and rural areas. Most secondary students are urban boys from wealthier population groups.
A significant proportion of enrolment is in private schools. Private aided and unaided schools account for 60 percent of all secondary enrolment, and their numbers are growing.
The low quality of primary education affects the quality of learning at the secondary level. In addition to this are issues of inappropriate curriculum and poor teaching practices.
Going forward: SSA II
In the second phase of the program, during the 11th Plan from 2007-12, the country estimates to spend the enormous sum of Rs.71,000 crores or US$17.75 billion on primary education.
As with SSA I, the second phase of the program will also be collectively supported by the World Bank, the European Commission and United Kingdom’s DFID. The World Bank expects to provide US$500 million in December 2007 for SSA II. The Bank will still remain a small player, financing less than 10% of the total government expenditures on the program.
SSA II will include an increased focus on upper primary education. It will also focus on expanding access to secondary education and improving its quality.
World Bank Analysis and Research
The World Bank is conducting various studies in education. In elementary education, studies are evaluating the impact of:
• Incentive payments and schooling inputs on student learning
• Dissemination of education information on school governance and student outcomes
• School characteristics and student outcomes
• Instructional time on task survey
The Bank is also engaged in conducting analytical work in early childhood education and secondary education:
• Early Childhood Development – with a focus on integrated (health/nutrition/education) approaches- this will feed into US$ 450 M Integrated Child Development Services Project
• Secondary Education – major analytical study related to expanding access, particularly for girls and marginalized groups
RSS