Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Peasants, the Proud Managers of Schools.
Many of them could not go anywhere near a school. Nor could they get any formal education. But now they are the proud managers of schools in their villages. It seems to be impossible, but has become a reality, thanks to the innovative and comprehensive Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan i.e. the movement for education for all. It is a Central scheme to eradicate illiteracy from future generations by involving the peasants and parents who know well the real issues that come in the way of education for their wards, local bodies, NGOs, teachers and the Central and State governments, especially at a time when primary education has been recognized as a fundamental right.
Earlier, schools were out of reach for the children of many villages due to distance. In some other cases, there were children, enrolled in hundreds, but a single teacher had to manage them all. The teacher had to club all the classes together and teach what the children have heard already from the same master, to their utter boredom, resulting in a large number of dropouts. In a few other cases, different linguistic groups had to go to a school where the children had to listen to in an alien tongue, dampening their spirit to learn. Some were in the habit of migrating from region to region periodically in search of livelihood, resulting in dislocation of education of their ward. The problems were myriad, mainly localized, engulfing elementary education. But the parents were earlier under the impression that finding a solution was out of bounds for them, thinking that it was an exclusive domain of the educational authorities, who had little comprehension of the local issues. Now they do not complain of such problem areas any more. Instead, they think aloud as a group to solve the issues themselves with the Government funding and backing, as enabled by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
Under the scheme, the Government provides the necessary infrastructure to primary education. But the responsibility of managing the institutions is largely in the hands of the Village Education Committees (VEC) set up at local levels. It includes representatives from among the parents, Panchayati Raj institutions, local self-help groups, non-governmental organizations and other opinion leaders who are willing to give their time for teaching in their locality, apart from the teachers. This committee assesses the situation, the needs and the strategy to enroll all the children of school-going age in their areas and submits its report to the Block Resource Centres (BRC) which are being established in all the Panchayat unions in the country. They compile the reports of various Village Education Committees under their areas and forward them with necessary recommendations to the district level committees. In some areas, Cluster Resource Centres (CRC) are also formed under the BRC, depending on their educational needs.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan aims at imparting at least 8 years of education to all children of school-going age before the year 2010 with specific intermediate timeframes by way of bridging all gender and social gaps and improving the quality of education. Wherever necessary, either additional schools are started or extra class rooms built up. If needed, a primary school can also be upgraded into a middle school. There are scientifically worked out provisions in the scheme for office equipment, maintenance, surveys and cultural activities. Cultural programmes would be designed to motivate students and parents on the need for education. Apex educational bodies such as the National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT), State Councils for Education, Research and Training and other academic institutions would be extending the needed help at various levels of the scheme like preparing and carrying out the District Elementary Education Plans. The Government allocates resources based on these plans and other aspects like commitment of the State administrations and institutional reforms in aid of decentralized management of education. Resource allocation is not only need-based, but also performance-linked.
Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, there should be one teacher for every 40 students. In a primary school, at least two teachers are ensured. In the middle schools or upper primary schools, the norm is to have one teacher for every class. Within one kilometre of every habitation, a school should be there as per the scheme. For every class, there are provisions to build separate classrooms. Refresher courses are conducted for teachers to hone their knowledge and skills, which would go a long way in imparting quality education to the children. Separate allocations are made for teaching aids and maintenance and repair of school buildings.For habitations which are devoid of educational facilities at present and as a preparatory measure to bring those who are out of schools into the educational mainstream, educational guarantee centers can be established in which the pupils could be educated in a flexible environment. Afterwards they could be brought into the normal schools. After two successful years of running the Educational Guarantee Centres, they could even be considered for upgrading into primary schools.
In Tamil Nadu there is a plan to create 412 Block Resource Centres and to appoint 4120 Block Resource Teachers under the scheme over the next five years from this academic session onwards. The estimated cost is Rs. 1,800 crore. A major proportion of the fund would be met by the Centre. Initially, the Centre's share is 85 per cent of the project cost which would marginally be reduced over the years. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, meant for universal elementary education, is, in fact, a people's movement, designed to spread the light of knowledge throughout the country, penetrating all barriers. It is being implemented through the active participation of the people, both the illiterate and the elite alike who are the major stakeholders, especially at a time when elementary education has been recognized as a fundamental right. -keralamonitor.com
CYNICAL BUSH'S MIDDLE EAST PEACE BID
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12738171&method=full&siteid=50143
Mirror.Co.Uk
Mar 15 2003
By Richard Wallace, Us Editor, And James Hardy, Political Editor
PRESIDENT Bush's announcement of a new Mid-East peace move as he fine-tuned his plans for war on Iraq was denounced as cynical spin yesterday.
Observers said it was a ploy to reassure allies such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt that the US would not ignore the Palestinian issue, and that an attack on Iraq was not anti-Arab. One UN diplomat described the twin-track approach of peace and war as "schizophrenic at best".
Mr Bush signalled his new peace drive as he prepared to fly to the Azores to meet Tony Blair and Spanish Premier Jose Maria Anzar tomorrow. The White House said the meeting was the "final pursuit" of attempts to win a second UN resolution to force Saddam to give up his weapons of mass destruction. But Mr Bush will say the time for talking is over and if a compromise resolution cannot be salvaged by the Monday deadline, Iraq must be given an immediate ultimatum.
Under pressure from Mr Blair, Mr Bush said he would reveal a new "road map" for a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict as soon as the Palestinians confirm a new Premier next week. The president, who has refused to negotiate with veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, called on both sides to "abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibility for peace".
He said: "As the terror threat is removed, Israel must take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable Palestinian state and work as quickly as possible toward a final status agreement. Settlement activity in the occupied territories must end. "Arab states must oppose terrorism, support a democratic Palestine and state clearly they'll live in peace with Israel. The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions."
Mr Blair said the timing of the announcement was designed to show that the US and Britain took the Arab-Israeli crisis seriously. He said: "It is precisely now, when we have this focus on Saddam, that we say to Arab and Muslim we accept the obligation of even-handedness. "The issue of peace between Palestinians and Israelis is as important as any other issue to us." Arafat has nominated his long-time deputy, Mahmud Abbas, to the post of Premier.
The Azores summit comes as US officials say hopes of winning a second UN Security Council resolution are "highly unlikely". White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said: "This is to pursue every last bit of diplomacy in seeking a way forward at the Security Council working towards that vote." Mr Bush phoned Mr Blair again yesterday along with leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The make or break vote will probably take place on Monday. Whatever the outcome, Mr Blair will call an emergency Cabinet meeting afterwards.
He is then expected to go to the Palace, probably on Tuesday evening, for formal clearance from the Queen to commit British forces to battle. At the same time, MPs look likely to be given a vote in the Commons. sparking a new rebellion from scores of Labour backbenchers. Admitting time was running out, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "Sadly, the diplomacy we have been involved in for many months may be coming to an end in days or weeks."
Europe Minister Denis MacShane added: "I fear a diplomatic solution is becoming terribly difficult." Britain has submitted a compromise resolution committing Saddam to fulfilling six tasks. But it has been rejected by France, Russia, China and Germany.
Iraq is due to give the UN details about the destruction of 3.9 tons of VX nerve gas and how it disposed of at least 2,245 gallons of anthrax. It has destroyed another four al-Samoud II missiles, bringing to 65 the number destroyed since March 1.
ISRAELI forces killed 10 Islamic militants in two raids on Jenin refugee camp and the nearby village of Tamoun yesterday.
