The budget allocation for school education is Rs20crore less than last year’s.
The budget allocation for school education is Rs20crore less than last year’s.
The state government allotted Rs2,688.26 crore for two Centre projects on school education — Rs759.46crore for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rs500crore for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), which addresses secondary education.
Sources from the state education department said this is a drop by Rs20.1crore compared to last year.
Experts say that the funds will not be sufficient to meet the requirements of several projects such as the Right to Education which are implemented under the SSA. The funds for SSA — the scheme is for children between 6 and 14 years — have been reduced from Rs780crore to Rs759.46crore, while the allocation for RMSA has been consistent at Rs500 crore. A total of Rs1,4268.80crore will be borne by the Centre for SSA. In RMSA, Rs450crore will be borne by the Centre.
The budget outlay proposed included the cost of infrastructure projects, quality improvement projects and teachers’ salaries.
S Deshmukh, director of SSA and RMSA, said that a major part of the funding goes for teacher salaries. “A total of 33% of the funding goes for construction-related work and 9% for salaries of administrative officers. A majority of the funds will go towards training teachers and better salaries,” he said.
Experts say the state has performed well in terms of infrastructure facilities for primary education but secondary education is still neglected. Arundhati Chavan, president PTA United Forum, said: “RTE has just started to take off and there are several projects under it that the state should look into. At such a time, the allocation should not have decreased.’’
Student-friendly budget
The provision for post-matric scholarship for girls and boys has increased from Rs90crore to Rs1,230.60 crore this year.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}