Though the number of SMCs in the country have increased, a study conducted by Central Square Foundation (CSF) found a huge gap between the policy and on ground implementation of SMCs.
The Section 21 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 mandates the formation of School Management Committees (SMC) in schools which are elected bodies at the school level and monitor functioning and utilisation of grants.
Though the number of SMCs in the country have increased, a study conducted by Central Square Foundation (CSF) found a huge gap between the policy and on ground implementation of SMCs.
"The local community has the highest incentive in holding education providers accountable, and often have the most relevant, ground-level information in monitoring schools. The SMCs monitor school functioning (mid-day meals, toilet facilities, teacher attendance, etc.), oversee utilisation of grants received from the government, local authority or other sources, prepare the school development plan (infrastructure, academic achievement, etc)," said the study.
It added: "The SMC consist of representatives of the local authority, parents or guardians of students, and the principal and teachers of the school. Three-fourths of the SMC members must be parents or guardians and half must be women. Members of the school committee can help overcome the administrative and technical capacity constraints that pose obstacles for effective education service delivery in a centralised fashion."
By performing certain functions, SMCs can hold schools accountable for the quality of education service delivery. However, improvement in the functioning of school depends not only on the presence of SMC, but also depend upon how educated and empowered they are.
A discussion on the role of SMCs in Indian school education was recently organised by Accountability Initiative (AI) and Central Square Foundation (CSF). The meeting brought together thought leaders, decision makers and representatives of various NGOs to discuss issues and solutions pertaining to SMC implementation in government schools.
Talking about the challenges and opportunities for SMCs in India, Ashish Dhawan, Founder and Chairman, Central Square Foundation, said: "Multiple factors prevent SMC functioning and effectiveness. These include low awareness amongst communities of their rights, roles and responsibilities, policy ambiguity and variation across states with limited SMC monitoring, and existing socio-economic equations. To fulfil the promise of SMCs as an empowered autonomous local body, decision makers and civil society initiatives jointly need to address these issues, suitably supported by philanthropy and CSR funds. There is also a need for periodic meeting among all stakeholders to facilitate knowledge sharing and enable broader discussions."
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