ROLE OF SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN IN UNIVERSALISATION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION

Introduction Primary education plays a vital role in the total education system, because primary education is the foundation of all education, without primary education we cant receive higher education, so primary education and higher education are the same coin of a money, primary education is the pillar of higher education. For improve the qualitative and quantitative development of primary education, the Govt. has been taking some important steps i.e. NFE, DPEP, MDM, OPEPA, etc. Indian Constitution Assembly article 45 says, free and compulsory primary education should be provided of all children without any caste, religion and tribes, etc. in the age group 6 to 14 years. Concept of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a comprehensive and into grated flagship programme of Government of India to attain universal elementary education covering the entire country is a mission made. The programme aims to provide useful and relevant elementary education to all children in the 6 to 14 age group by 2010. It is an initiative to universalize and improve quality of education through decentralized and context specific planning and a process based time bound implementation strategy. The programme lays emphasis on bridging all gender and social category gaps at elementary level with time bound programme. Quality improvement still remains a major concern, especially for upper primary section. SSA is an attempt to fill this vacuum and cover all the district in the country can like the earlier programme and on element any education on like NPEGEL, Kasturba Gandhi, SSA adopts, etc.
1

Meaning: The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a historic stride towards achieving the long cherished goal of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) through a time bound integrated approach, in partnership with State. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which promises to change the face of the elementary education sector of the country, aims to provide useful and quality elementary education to all children in the 6-14 age group by 2010. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is an effort to recognize the need for improving the performance of the school system and to provide community owned quality elementary education in mission mode. It also envisages bridging of gender and social gaps. Characteristic: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is an attempt to provide quality education to all children through active participation of community in a mission mode. The major characteristics of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) are: A programme with a clear time frame for universal elementary education. A response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country. An opportunity for promoting social justice through basic education. An effort at effectively involving the Panchayati Raj Institutions, School Management Committees, Village and Urban Slum Level Education Committees, Parents Teachers Associations, Mother Teacher Associations, Tribal Autonomous Councils and other grass roots level structures in the management of elementary schools. An expression of political will for universal elementary education across the country. A partnership between the Central, State and Local Government. An opportunity for States to develop their own vision of elementary education.
2

Aims and Objectives of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) aims to provide useful and relevant elementary education for all children in the 6-14 age group by 2010. There is also another goal to bridge social, regional and gender gaps, with the active participation of the community in the management of schools. Following are the main objectives of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA): All children in school, Education Guarantee Centre, Alternate School, Back-to-School camp by 2003. All children complete five years of primary schooling by 2007. All children complete eight years of elementary school by 2010. Focus on elementary education of satisfactory quality with emphasis on education for life. Bridge all gender and social category gaps at primary stage by 2007 and at elementary education level by 2010. Universal retention by 2010.

Basic Features of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Institutional reforms in states. Sustainable financing in partnership with states (IX Plan 85:15, X Plan 75:25, After X Plan 50:50) Community ownership of school based interventions through effective decentralization. Institutional capacity building for improvement in quality. Community based monitoring with full transparency in all aspects of implementation.

 Community based approach to planning with a habitation as a unit of planning. A mainstreaming gender approach. Focus on the educational participation of children from the SC/ST, religion and linguistic minorities, etc. Thrust on quality and making education relevant. Recognition of critical role of teacher and focus on the human resource development needs of teachers Preparation of District Elementary Education Plans reflecting all governmental and non-governmental investments.

Major Areas of Interventions in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Education of out-of-school children (Educational Guarantee Scheme and Alternative & Innovative Education) Quality Improvement Special Focus Groups Research and Evaluation Management Structure and Institutional Capacity Building Community Mobilization Civil Works Monitoring and MIS Financial Management and Procurement

Components of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) The components of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) includes appointment of teachers, teacher training, qualitative improvement of elementary education, provision of teaching learning materials, establishment of Block and Cluster Resource Centres for academic support, construction of classrooms and school buildings, establishment of education guarantee centres, integrated education of the disabled and distance education. Structure for Implementation The Central and State Governments will together implement the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in partnership with the local governments and the community. To signify the national priority for elementary education, a National Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mission is being established with the Prime Minister as the Chairperson and the Union Minister of Human Resource Development as the Vice-Chairperson. States have been requested to establish State Level Implementation Society for DEE under the Chairmanship of Education Minister. Besides recognizing PRIs/Tribal Councils in Scheduled Areas/including the Gram Sabha, the States would be encouraged to enlarge the accountability framework by involving NGOs/teachers, activists/womens organisations, etc.

Conclusion: However, the S.S.A. is a best programme for reduce dropout in primary level but it cant successful in Odisha due to lack of money, interest, attitude of the society, members, etc.