Question : EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION

(a) whether the Union Government has blamed the State Governments for their failure to increase public spending on education to 6 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP);

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government’s expenditure on the education sector has increased while the expenditure by the States has declined;

(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to take any effective steps to ensure increase in spending by the States on education; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) & (b): While public expenditure on education as percentage of GDP by Central Government has increased from 0.67% in 2001-02 to 0.94% (Provisional) in 2008-09, the share of States has declined during this period from 3.13% in 2001-02 to 2.84% (Provisional) in 2008-09.

(c)to (e): Expenditure on education in absolute terms has increased over the years by centre as well as States. During XI Five Year Plan also, an allocation of Rs.2,69,873 crore has been provided to Ministry of Human Resource Development, which is 4.6 fold increase over X Five Year Plan expenditure of Rs.58,817 crore. This substantial increase in central plan outlay for education represent a very substantial effort on the part of the Central Government towards raising public spending on education towards the goal of spending 6% of GDP for education. Overall progress towards this goal would however also depend on the efforts made by the States. Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for universalisation of elementary education and Mid Day Meal (MDM) schemes, a considerable amount is released to states by centre. Beside a number of new schemes have been initiated by Centre during XI Five Year Plan to incentivise expenditure by States such as (i) Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) to enhance access to secondary education and improve its quality (ii) setting up of 6000 model schools at Block level (iii) construction and running of girls’ hostels for students of secondary and higher secondary schools (iv) Setting up of 374 new model degree colleges (v) Incentivising State Governments for expansion, inclusion & excellence(vi)Special assistance to upgrade institutions which could not get assistance under section 12B of UGC Act, which are not being eligible due to poor infrastructure (vii) National Mission in Education through ICT etc.