Not to be published/broadcast before 31st August, 2009

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA) being implemented in Himachal Pradesh has started showing discernible results. Primarily, aimed at universalisation of Elementary Education by community ownership of the school system, SSA in the hilly State has gradually been bringing qualitative improvement in the school education. Under SSA all children in the age group of 6-14 are being provided elementary education. Another area of importance under the SSA is to bridge social, regional and gender gaps with the active participation of the community in the management of schools.

SSA was started in Himachal Pradesh in the year 2001-02. The programme is being implemented by SSA State Mission Authority. The Abhiyan has focussed its attention on four main objectives of the programmes viz: Universal Access, Universal Enrollment, Universal Retention and Quality Education.

Students residing in the far- flung areas are being brought in mainstream by providing education under Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) Centres up to 3rd class. Physically challenged Children with Special needs are among the important components of SSA under which 22040 children have been identified. Out of these 19643 children are studying in formal schools. As many as 1092 resource persons have been trained to educate these children.

The Girl Education has been accorded top priority under SSA. Free text books are being provided to all the girls right from class-1 to VIII.  Exposure visits are also being organised for selected and needy girls within and outside of the State.  In order to further take care of the girls education, National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level is being implemented in eight educationally backward blocks of Chamba, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmour districts of Pradesh. Remedial teaching is being provided to needy girls in selected subjects for atleast three months in a year. Ten Kashturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas(KGBV) are functioning in seven blocks of the State. At present, 396 Girls have been enrolled in these KGBVs.

Imparting Computer Education is another significant area of activities under SSA.  As many as 282 Government Schools located in remotest parts of the State have been brought under computer education in collaboration with NIIT. Computer Aided Learning has also been introduced in all the 282schools in joint venture with Azim Premji Foundation. During the year 2009-10 provision of Rs. 6 crore has been made for Computer Education.

Learning Enhancement Programmes like 'Aadhar' for Primary level and 'Samvridhi' for Upper Primary level have been started in collaboration with a NGO. Each teacher is being given need based training for 10-15 days in a year. 33 percent of the total budget is being spent on the Civil Works in the State for providing New Schools, Additional Classrooms, Boundary Walls, Toilets, Drinking water facilities, Furniture etc. in the schools. Till date 9895 Classrooms, 56 Block Resource Centres(BRC), 538 Cluster Resource Centres(CRC), 10463 toilets including separate toilets for girls, 2312 drinking water facilities, 88 kitchen sheds and 3607 boundary walls have been sanctioned under SSA.

7949 additional rooms, 45 BRCs, 486 CRCs, 3607 boundary walls, 2276 drinking water facilities, 83 kitchen sheds, 649 major repairs, 5225 toilets including separate toilets fro girls have also been completed. For the current financial year 2009-10 the budget provision for civil works is Rs. 4419. 91 lakh for the construction of 859 rooms, 3650 Girl Toilets, 1 BRC Building, 40 Primary School Buildings and 1133 Boundary Walls. Provision of Rs. 74.97 lakh has been made for providing furniture to 14995 students of upper primary classes.

Library movement has been started in the State in collaboration with a Non Government Organisation. Under this programme libraries have been established in 210 schools of district Shimla and students are being educated through various activities. This programme has brought tremendous change amongst the students by improving their reading- writing skills. Their confidence level has also enhanced to a great extent.