Question : DECENTRALIZATION OF EDUCATION

(a) whether there is any proposal to decentralise the education system and give responsibility of the primary education to the Municipalities/Panchayats/local bodies; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)


(a) & (b) : A statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.402 FOR 21.8.2001 ASKED BY SHRI BASUDEB ACHARIA AND SHRI SAVSHIBHAI MAKWANA REGARDING DECENTRALIZATION OF EDUCATION

(a) & (b) : The National Policy on Education, 1986 and the Programme of Action(POA), 1992 have emphasised the importance of decentralizing planning and management of education at all levels and involving people in the process. In accordance with the POA, a Committee on Decentralised Management of Education was constituted to formulate guidelines for the management of education at district, sub- district, and village levels keeping in view the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India. This Committee had indicated how educational structures should be set up at the district, block/taluk levels in pursuance of the Constitutional Amendments. It had also suggested ways for mobilizing community participation in the educational process so that the country could move with a renewed vigour towards the goal of Universalisation of Elementary Education. Thereafter this report was commended for appropriate adoption and effective implementation by the States and UTs keeping in view the specific situations as well as the spirit of the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India.