Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
This scheme was launched in March, 2009 with the objective to enhance access to secondary education and to improve its quality. t is envisaged to achieve an enrolment rate of 75% from 52.26% in 2005-06 at secondary stage within 5 years of implementation of the scheme by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of any habitation. The other objec
tives include improving quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, providing universal access to secondary level education by 2017, i.e., by the end of 12th Five Year Plan and achieving universal retention by 2020. With this objective, the RMSA Society for the implementation of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Programme has been registered under Societies Registration Act 1960 in the State of Punjab. Date of Notification of RMSA Society, Punjab : 29 January, 2009. The affairs of the Authority are administered, subject to Rules and Regulations and orders of the Authority, by an Executive Committee, which is association of 14 members. President of both Committees is Honorable Chief Minister, Punjab and Member Secretary is Director General School Education-cum-Director Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, Punjab. Important physical facilities provided under the scheme are:
(i) Additional class rooms, (ii) Laboratories, (iii) Libraries, (iv) Art and crafts room, (v) Toilet blocks, (vi) Drinking water provisions and (vii) Residential Hostels for Teachers in remote areas, (vii) Computer Rooms, (viii) Girls Activity Room
Important quality interventions provided under the scheme are:
(i) Appointment of additional teachers to reduce PTR to 30:1, (ii) focus on Science, Math and English education, (iii) In-service training of teachers, (iv) science laboratories, (v) ICT enabled education, (vi) curriculum reforms; and (vii) teaching learning reforms. Important equity interventions provided in the scheme are:
(i) Special focus in micro planning (ii) Preference to Ashram schools for upgradation (iii) Preference to areas with concentration of SC/ST/Minority for opening of schools (iv) Special enrolment drive for the weaker section (v) more female teachers in schools; and (vi) Separate toilet blocks for girls. Implementation mechanism of the Scheme
The scheme is being implemented by the State government societies established for implementation of the scheme. The central share is released to the implementing agency directly. The applicable State share is also released to the implementing agency by the respective State Governments.
