Question : FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL TEACHERS UNDER SSA

(a) whether the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) norms provide for inclusion of salary of additional teachers recruited for the existing schools;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government proposes to include the salary of the said teachers for funding under the SSA budget;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to reimburse the amount spent by certain States including Gujarat for the salary of the additional teachers recruited by them during 1 April, 2001 to 31 March 2011 which was not included in their budgets and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e): The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides support to State Governments for appointments of additional teachers to help States achieve the pupil teacher ratio norms prescribed by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. This support is an additionality to the States’ existing commitments and expenditure on elementary education. The States’ prepare their Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) with proposals for all components of SSA including additional teacher posts and send the same to Government of India (GOI) for appraisal and approval. There is no proposal to reimburse the States for additional teachers appointed by them without these additional teacher posts being approved as part of their AWP&B under SSA, by the Government of India.