India's three flagship education development programmes, namely Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Scheme of Restructuring and Reorganisation of Teacher Education (STE) will merge from the new academic year.
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The decision is taken by the human resource development ministry as reported by Hindustan Times.
The three schemes were in operation since the last 15 years. The focus of these centrally sponsored projects was improving the quality of education and infrastructure in government schools at both elementary and secondary level. Going forward, there will be a new integrated programme for classes 1 to 12.
The meetings relating to the budget proposals of the new schemes stand postponed. The HRD ministry has decided to meet top officials of all the states in New Delhi on January 30 to discuss the new integrated plan. According to a note from the HRD ministry, the combined scheme for school education will aim at enhancing school effectiveness relating to equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes. Niti Aayog proposed the plan for merging the three schemes.
The budget of SSA, RMSA and STE will be combined. The Centre will give funds on 60:40 sharing basis to the majority of states, and 90:10 to north-eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.