Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksya Abhiyan

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) was launched in 2009 for augmenting secondary school infrastructure. It aims to ensure GER of 100% by 2017 and universal retention by 2020.

Background

While Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was launched for elementary / primary / upper primary schooling, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksya Abhiyan (RMSA) was launched in 2009 to increase demand for secondary schooling.  The scheme is implemented by the states with financial support from central government. The scheme provides financial support for additional class rooms, labs, art rooms, toilet blocks, drinking water facilities, residential hostels, appointment of additional teachers, teacher’s training etc.

Objectives

Primary objective of RMSA is to enhance the enrolment at secondary stage by providing a secondary school with a reasonable distance of habitation, with an aim to ensure GER of 100 per cent by 2017 and universal retention by 2020. Other major objectives of the RMSA are:

• to raise the minimum level of education to class X and universalize access to  secondary  education;
• to ensure  good-quality  secondary  education  with  focus  on Science, Mathematics and English; and
• to reduce the gender, social and regional gaps in  enrolments,  dropouts  and  improving  retention
• To make sure that the secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, etc.

Physical Facilities provided

Important physical facilities are provided which include, (i) additional class rooms, (ii) laboratories, (iii) libraries, (iv) art and crafts room, (v) toilet blocks, (vi) drinking water provisions, (vii) electricity / telephone/internet connectivity and (viii) disabled friendly provisions. Improvement in quality through, (i) appointment of additional teachers to improve PTR (ii) in-service training of teachers, (iii) ICT enabled education, (iv) curriculum reforms and (v) teaching learning reforms. Equity aspects addressed through (i) special focus in micro planning, (ii) preference to areas with concentration of SC/ST/minority for opening of schools, (iii) special enrolment drive for the weaker section, (iv) more female teachers in schools and (v) separate toilet blocks for girls.

Funding and Implementation

The scheme is implemented by the states with financial support from central government with a funding pattern of 75:25 between Centre and States (90:10 for Special Category and North Eastern States). From the financial year 2014-15, the Scheme has been revised to subsume ICT @schools, Vocationalisation of Secondary Education, Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage, and Girls Hostels. The scheme extends the benefit to aided secondary schools for quality interventions excluding infrastructure support and teachers and staff salaries.