(a) whether the Village Education Committees (VECs) have been constituted all over the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof including their role in improving rural primary education;
(c) whether the Government proposes to launch awareness and advocacy campaigns to enhance public participation through VECs; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the funds earmarked for the purpose?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a)& (b): Prior to the enactment of the Right of Education
to Free & Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009, Village/school
level committees had been constituted under the Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan (SSA) programme in all States/UTs. However, under the RTE
Act 2009 mandate, a School Management Committee (SMC) has to be
constituted for every elementary school.
All States/UTs except Delhi have notified the constitution of the
SMCs. Under the RTE Act, 2009, the SMCs have been assigned the
function of monitoring the working of the school, preparing and
recommending the school development plan and monitoring the
utilization of the grants received by the school.
(c)&(d): Under the SSA, 0.5% of the annual district outlay
is provided for community mobilization including advocacy and
awareness campaigns. The States are conducting a “Shiksha Ka Haqâ€
campaign towards this end.