(a) the details of progress made so far in implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Gujarat;
(b) whether sufficient funds have been granted by the Government to the State in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has sought any foreign aid for providing primary education to the children in the State and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure universalization of primary education in the country?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b): The details of progress made in implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Gujarat and the details of funds released to the State are at Annexures I and II, respectively.
(c): The Government has not sought any foreign aid for providing primary education to the children specifically for the State. However, for the entire SSA programme /Scheme, external funding of an amount of SDR 651 Million has been obtained from the World Bank spread over a period from 2013-14 to 2017-18 (up to September, 2017)
(d): SSA has been launched for universalizing elementary education and being implemented in partnership between the Centre and State Governments/Union Territories. The programme seeks to provide access, equity, retention and quality in the area of Elementary Education. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya is a sub-component of SSA focusing on Girls children in educationally backward blocks to promote Girls’ Education. The norms for opening new schools under SSA have been revised to provide for primary and upper primary schools within such area of limits of neighbourhood as notified by the States/UTs under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 Rules.
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