MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) and (b) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 in its
Schedule lays down norms for Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) for both primary and upper primary schools.
At primary level, the PTR norm is 30:1 and at the upper primary level it is 35:1. As per the Unified
District Information System For Education (UDISE) 2016-17, the PTR at national level for primary
schools is 23:1 and upper primary schools is 24:1, which is better than the prescribed norms. Further, as
per UDISE 2017-18 (Provisional), 7.92 % Government elementary schools are having single teacher.
As per UDISE 2017-18 (Provisional), 98.74% Government elementary schools have the facility
of boys’ toilet, 95.54% Government schools have the facility of girls’ toilet and 97.18% Government
schools have the facility of drinking water. Under erstwhile SSA till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha
effective from 2018-19, construction of 3.99 lakh boys’ toilets, 5.22 lakh separate girls’ toilets and 2.41
lakh drinking water facilities have been sanctioned for elementary schools to States and UTs. Out of
which, States and UTs have reported completion of construction of 3.83 lakh boys’ toilets, 5.14 lakh
separate girls’ toilets and 2.34 lakh drinking water facilities till 31.03.2019.
(c) and (d) No, Sir. There were 10,48,046 Government elementary schools in 2009-10, which has
increased to 10,63,963 in 2017-18 as per UDISE 2017-18 (Provisional).
(e) Education is in the concurrent list of the constitution and majority of the schools come under the
jurisdiction of respective States and UTs, which are the appropriate Governments under Section 2(a) of
the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The appropriate
Governments have the responsibility and mandate to provide school infrastructure including drinking
water facility and toilets in schools and ensuring availability of teachers in all schools in accordance
with the norms prescribed in the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009 and respective State RTE Rules.
States and UTs have been advised to ensure all the schools in their jurisdiction meet the RTE norms.
The Department of School Education and Literacy has launched an Integrated Scheme for
School Education – Samagra Shiksha, from 2018-19, which subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally
Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
(RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). The new integrated scheme envisages school education as a
continuum from Pre-school to Senior Secondary level and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable
quality education, all levels of schoolings. The main objectives of the scheme are provision of quality
education and enhancing learning outcomes of students, bridging social and gender gaps in school
education, ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions, support States in the implementation
of RTE Act, 2009 and strengthening of teacher education institutions. The major features of Samagra
Shiksha are:
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(i) Universalizing access to quality school education by expansion of schooling facilities in the
uncovered areas through up-gradation of schools up-to senior secondary level.
(ii) Ensuring availability of adequate infrastructure to ensure that schools conform to the
prescribed norms.
(iii) Annual Grant of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000/- per school for strengthening of
Libraries.
(iv) Annual Composite school grant of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 to be allocated on the basis of
school enrolment, out of which at least 10% is required to be spent on activities related to
Swachhata Action Plan.
(v) Annual Grant for sports equipments at the cost of Rs. 5000 for Primary Schools,
Rs. 10,000 for upper primary schools and up to Rs. 25,000 for secondary and
senior secondary schools.
(vi) Allocation for children with Special Needs (CWSN) of Rs. 3,500 per child per annum
including a stipend of Rs. 200 per month for CWSN girls to be provided from Classes I to
XII.
(vii) Allocation for uniforms at the rate of Rs. 600 per child per annum, at elementary level.
(viii) Allocation for textbooks at the rate of Rs. 250/400 per child per annum, at elementary level.
(ix) Upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from Class 6-8 to
Class 6-12.
(x) Strengthening Teacher Education Institutions like SCERTs and DIETs to improve
the quality of teachers.
(xi) Enhanced use of digital technology in education through smart classrooms, digital
boards and DTH channels.
(xii) Support States & UTs for implementation of provisions of RTE Act, including
reimbursement under Section 12(1)(c) of the Act.
(xiii) Setting up of residential schools and hostels for difficult areas and for children in difficult
circumstances.
(xiv) The scheme also provides for annual maintenance and repair of existing school building,
toilets and other facilities to upkeep the infrastructure in good condition.
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