Over 1 lakh kids still out of school in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Apr 29: Over one lakh children continue to remain out of school even after the implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) which has suffered due to under utilisation of funds, poor infrastructure at schools and inadequate monitoring of activities.

With the present pace of implementation, achievement of objectives of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan appears to be a remote possibility, says the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report.

The launch of SSA, a programme aimed at universal elementary education to children in the age group of six to 14 years, was delayed in the State and utilisation of the scheme funds was very low in the first two years.

Between 2001-2005, only Rs 911.37 crore were available with Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad against the approved outlay of Rs 2,155.87 crore. Utilisation of available funds was low during 2001-02 (nil) and 2002-03 (54 per cent).

As of March 2005, 370 out of 72,033 habitations did not have schooling facility. As of November 2005, 1.06 lakh children continued to remain 'out of school' of the 15.79 lakh identified in March 2002. About 1,500 schools did not have drinking water facility and 36,000 schools had no toilets.

Despite availability of funds, only 37 per cent of civil works (construction of class rooms, toilets and provision of drinking water facilities) taken up could be completed by March 2005, mainly due to land problem. Though the teacher to pupil ratio in the State as a whole was adequate, this ratio in single teacher schools was low. Out of 76,407 primary and upper primary schools, 6,480 were single teacher schools.

Supply of textbooks to 8.06 lakh children was delayed upto six months affecting quality of education. In eight districts, 1.07 lakh disabled children were identified. However, 858 disabled children were provided with aid and appliances out of 5,521 selected.

The Governing Council and the Executive Committee did not monitor the implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan regularly. The council never met during 2002-05.

For successful implementation of the programme,the government may consider release of funds as per the annual plans approved by the Project Approval Board, speed up all the interventions of SSA as to to optimise utilisation of funds, encourage community participation so as to achieve the target of cent per cent enrolment of 'out of school' children. CAG report also suggests completion of all civil works on priority basis so as to provide basic facilities to the children and to ensure provision of aids and appliances for the disabled children.

It says that regular meetings of the Governing Council and Executive committee be held to provide neccessary inputs for effective implementation of SSA.

CAG report mentioned that these suggestions were sent to the government in October 2005 but there was no reply till October 2006.

UNI