Make Schooling Joyful, Quality Learning : PM

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today voiced concern at the ''high'' number of out-of-school children in some parts of India and stressed schools imparting ''joyful and quality learning.'' Dr Singh was reviewing the flagship campaigns-- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meals-- of the government's programme to universalise elementary education with Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh.

The number of out-of-school children has come down from 2.5 crores to 96 lakhs over the last two years, an official statement after the meeting said.

But the Prime Minister expressed concern at pockets across the country where the number of out-of-school children ''continues to be high,'' the statement said.

He stressed the need to provide ''joyful and quality learning, especially to the first generation school goers.'' In the context of the National Curriculum Framework - 2005, Dr Singh emphasised the need to improve the quality of Science and Mathematics teaching.

He also expressed concern over delays in teacher recruitment, absenteeism and deployment.

The Prime Minister called for sharing the best practices in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meal programmes across the States.

He spoke of reviewing the programmes in the forthcoming meeting of the National Development Council to bring about synergy and national consensus on priorities.

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