Retention, a priority for SSA

Measures to be taken for retention of children in primary schools, mainstreaming out-of-school students, and improving  school infrastructure are some of the top gainers in this year’s annual work plan of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

Of the whopping `2,064.28 crore budget approved by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, the nodal agency for universalization of elementary education, has set aside `66.97 crore this year for mainstreaming out-of-school children. “The question of how we will be able to bring in children who have never been to schools is a challenge for us. We are taking this as our main priority,” said Tushar Girinath, State Project Director, SSA.

As retention measures this year, nearly 9.49 lakh primary children in aided schools would receive free textbooks, braille books, workbooks and other support materials. In addition to this, 37.5 lakh children would receive one set of uniforms each. The SSA would also be integrating Class VIII into upper primary along with Classes VI and VII. This year, 2,272 additional classrooms for Class VIII would be added.