'Extend Sarva Siksha to Class X'

NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission has suggested two ways out of the crisis looming ahead of the additional 77 lakh children who will have nowhere to go once they pass Class VIII in 2007 under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA).
In its mid-term appraisal of the 10th plan, it is making two recommendations: the SSA be extended up to Class X from the present Class VIII; Or a mission for secondary education be set up on lines of the SSA.The SSA is at present concentrating on enrolling children of school going age up to Class VIII. A noble idea but thanks to the government’s blinkered vision, the fruits of its success may not be so sweet.
While putting all its money into elementary schools, the government has so far paid little attention to the secondary schools. So when retention of students at elementary school improves, there will be a flood at the secondary level.
At present, 2.03 crore students are enrolled in secondary schools. The Commission has estimated that this number will go up to 2.8 crore in 2007. Since there is little expansion taking place at the secondary level, there is a good chance that the additional 77 lakh will have nowhere to go in two years''time. In fact, the situation may go out of hand in 2010-11, when the government is hoping to get every child of school going age into a school. The number of students ready to join Class IX will double to about five crore.
The immediate worry is these 77 lakh children. To accommodate them, says the Planning Commission, about 48,000 additional secondary schools and eight lakh extra teachers are needed. Roughly about Rs 9,000 crore will be required annually to pay salaries. Creating school infrastructure will also run into several hundred crores.
At present, secondary education is funded by states, the Centre only pitches in a few hundred crores. But if the sector is incorporated into the SSA, the Centre’s share in funds may go up to 75% in the present plan and 50% in the 11th five-year plan.
The Commission’s suggestion is to look at private funding and make efforts to ensure that private schools which get government concessions pay back by giving admission to deserving students from low income families.
The HRD ministry admits the situation is alarming."We are struggling to find a solution and are open to any suggestion,"secondary education secretary, B S Baswan, said. Extension of SSA and the mid-day meal scheme up to Class X is not a bad idea. But the ministry is yet to firm up an opinion."There are two sub-committees under the Central Advisory Board of Education, which are looking at the problem. Soon we will issue a white paper,"said Baswan.