Samagra Shiksha Scheme is a flagship program launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. The scheme was introduced as part of the implementation of a proposal made in the Union Budget 2018–19, which emphasized treating education holistically, without segmentation, from pre-nursery to Class 12.

Samagra Shiksha Scheme – The Integrated Scheme on School Education perceives school as a continuous journey from pre-school to primary, upper primary, secondary, and senior secondary levels.

Resonating with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and the NEP 2020 vision of providing high-quality education for all, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan aims to deliver inclusive and equitable quality education from pre-school to the senior secondary stage.

Read further to learn about the scheme’s launch year, goals, implementation, and other key aspects.

Samagra Shiksha Scheme: Launch and Genesis

The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan was launched on May 24, 2018, by the then Minister of Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar. The Samagra Shiksha Scheme was formed by subsuming the following three schemes:

1.   Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan(RMSA)

Launched in March 2009, the scheme aimed to make high-quality secondary education accessible and affordable for all students in the 15–16 age group.

2.   Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)

Launched on April 1, 2001, the programme was designed to achieve Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE).

3.   Teacher Education(TE)

Launched as a centrally sponsored scheme to improve teacher training infrastructure and quality in India.

 

Samagra Shiksha Scheme aimed to integrate school education from preschool to senior secondary levels, ensuring inclusivity, quality, and equitable learning opportunities.

Over time, it has been further strengthened with updates, including the introduction of Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0, which focuses on enhancing digital learning, foundational literacy, teacher training, and vocational education.

Objectives of the Scheme

The objectives of the Samagra Shiksha Scheme cover holistic educational goals, aligning with the government’s Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision.

The objectives include:

1. Assist States and UTs in implementing the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).
2. Support States in enforcing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
3. Prioritize Early Childhood Care and Education.
4. Strengthen Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
5. Promote a holistic, integrated, inclusive, and activity-based curriculum and pedagogy to develop 21st-century skills in students.
6. Deliver quality education and improve student learning outcomes.
7. Address social and gender gaps in school education.
8. Ensure equity and inclusion at all levels of schooling.
9. Enhance and upgrade SCERTs, State Institutes of Education, and DIETs as key agencies for teacher training.
10. Provide a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment with essential schooling standards.
11. Promote vocational education.

Scheme Implementation

Through measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), every component of Samagra Shiksha is assessed to evaluate its outcomes, ensure its reach, and determine its overall effectiveness.

The Results/Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are

1. Total enrolment
2. Gross enrolment ratio
3. Social Parity Index (SPI) in enrolment
4. Gender Parity Index (GPI) in enrolment
5. Secondary education graduation rate (students enrolled in Grade IX in year ‘t’ appearing for the Board Exam in Grade X in year ‘t+1’)
6. Learning achievement level of students in Class X
7. Integrated science lab/science lab
8. Internet connectivity

Samagra Shiksha 2.0 – New Interventions

The Samagra Shiksha Scheme, in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), introduces several new interventions aimed at improving the quality and inclusivity of education across various stages.

1. Pre-Primary Education

• Training of Master Trainers to train Anganwadi workers and conduct in-service teacher training for ECCE teachers.
• Provision of up to ₹500 per child per year for teaching-learning materials, indigenous toys, games, and play-based activities in pre-primary sections of government schools.
• Support for pre-primary sections in government primary schools.

3. Elementary Level

• Financial support for State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights at a rate of ₹50 per elementary school for ensuring child safety and rights.
• Implementation of child tracking systems for students in government and government-aided schools.
• Greater emphasis on Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to ensure timely distribution of various benefits directly to students.

4. Secondary Level

• Universal access to education extended up to the senior secondary level.
• Introduction of new subjects in existing senior secondary schools instead of traditional streams.
• Expansion of transport facilities for secondary-level students, with support of up to ₹6,000 per year.
• Financial assistance for out-of-school children (16–19 years old) from SC, ST, and disabled categories, providing up to ₹2,000 per child per grade for completing their secondary or senior secondary education through NIOS/SOS.

5. Quality and Innovation at All Levels

• Introduction of Holistic Progress Card (HPC) to provide a 360-degree, multidimensional report showcasing each learner’s progress in cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.
• Support for activities under PARAKH, the National Assessment Centre, to enhance evaluation and assessment methods.

Provisions to support NIPUN Bharat

Under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, provisions have been made to support the NIPUN Bharat initiative, which focuses on the National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy. The mission aims to ensure that every child achieves the necessary competencies in reading, writing, and numeracy by Grade III.

Financial support is provided to enhance the effectiveness of this initiative, including ₹500 per child per year for teaching-learning materials (TLM), ₹150 per teacher for manuals and resources, and ₹10–20 lakh per district for assessment activities. Additionally, specialized training modules under NISHTHA are designed to equip pre-primary and primary teachers with the skills required to promote foundational literacy and numeracy among students.

Concluding – Samagra Shiksha Scheme

The Samagra Shiksha Scheme represents a transformative step toward ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all children in India, in line with the goals outlined in the National Education Policy 2020. Samagra Shiksha is equipping both students and educators with the tools needed to succeed in an ever-evolving educational landscape, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of the nation as a whole.