Question : EDUCATION TO GIRLS



(a) whether the Government has promoted any methodology so as to ensure that girl child is necessarily and equally given access to school education;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SMT. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) to (c) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a centrally sponsored scheme of Government of India has the goal of Universal Elementary Education in the country, and aims to provide useful and relevant elementary education for all children in the 6-14 age group with special focus on reaching out to the girl child. To bridge gender gaps in enrolment,retention and learning, the Government implements the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme and National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Under KGBV, residential schools are set up at upper primary level in educationally backward blocks for girls belonging predominantly to SC, ST, OBC and minority communities while under the NPEGEL, education at elementary level is provided to reach the ‘hardest to reach’ girls, especially those not in schools.Funds are also provided to the States under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for need-based interventions for promotion of girls’ education including awareness campaigns. Similarly,at the secondary level,the centrally sponsored scheme ‘Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan’ envisages special focus on girls’ enrolment and retention through various measures including appointment of women teachers and provision of toilet block for girls in schools. The Girls’ Hostel scheme is meant to create residential facilities for girls at the secondary stage in educationally backward blocks. Under the scheme ‘Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education’, a financial incentive is provided to all SC/ST girls joining class IX in government and government-aided schools.