(a) whether the Government proposes to set up new schools in rural/semi-rural areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong District under various schemes during the next three years;
(b) if so, the number of schools proposed to be set up in the State of West Bengal;
(c) the details of the targets, if any, fixed by the Government in this regard; and
(d) the action plan prepared by the Government to achieve the targets fixed in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)
(a) to (d): As per the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, it is the duty of the respective State and Union Territory Government which is the appropriate Government under the RTE Act to provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child of the age 6 to 14 years in a neighbourhood school. In pursuance of Section 6 of the RTE Act, the respective State and Union Territory (UT) Government have notified areas or limits of their neighbourhood norms in their State RTE Rules, factoring in their State specific condition, for opening of schools.
The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, through integrated centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha provides support to the States and UTs for implementing the various provisions of the RTE Act, including opening/ strengthening of schools. On the basis of the Annual Work Plan & Budget received from State Government for various activities, Project Approval Board (PAB) approves opening of new schools to the State Government for implementation of Samagra Shiksha. As on 15.03.2022, status of schools under Samagra Shikhsa in the State of West Bengal is as below:
Schools Approved Functional
Primary 16655 16590
Primary to Upper Primary 10087 7842
Secondary 7 0