R.M.S.A. - A Glimpse

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan or R.M.S.A. is designed to strengthen secondary and higher secondary education as it is the crucial stage that enables the students to compete for higher education and jobs globally. Some key points of the system are

• Secondary education is made available within 5km and higher secondary education within 7-10km. in the hilly areas residential schools will be set up.
• To ensure that all secondary schools have minimum physical furniture, staff and other supplies. For this financial support will be provided.
• The scheme will initially cover up to class10. Subsequently higher secondary stage will be taken up.

Steps are taken to meet the following strategies

ACCESS

• Up gradation of existing U.P. and High Schools
• Opening of new High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools in PPP model

QUALITY

• Providing infrastructure like blackboard,furniture,library,computer,science lab and toilet
• In-service training for teachers
• Residential accommodation for teachers in the rural and difficult hilly areas.

EQUITY

• Free lodging or boarding for SC/ST and minority community students
• Cash incentive,booksa and uniform for girls
• Scholarship for meritorious students at the secondary level

INSTTUTIONAL REFORM AND STRENGTHENING

• Decentralization of school management for improved performance
• Streamlining financial procedures for a speedy flow of funds
• Strengthening of NCERT, NIEPA and NIOS at national level and SCERT, SIEMAT and Open schools at the state level.
• Involvement of Panchayatiraj and municipal bodies in the school management through PTA and management committees.

Another important aspect of RMSA is the regular supervision activities. National/State supervision team will visit the schools once in six months. Besides the overall assessment, there will be provisions for classroom observation by resource person.

The central govt. will bear 75% of the cost to impart RMSA. In the North Eastern states, 90% of the cost will be borne by the central govt. Schools must open bank account in public sector banks with H.M./PRINCIPAL and Vice Principal of the school education committee, a joint holder of the bank account.

Since teachers are the most important component of the school education system, five days comprehensive in-service course is included in RMSA with a total remuneration of Rs.1000/-

In India, secondary stage consists of class 9 and 10 in 19 states and in 13 other states, it covers class8 to 10. Higher secondary plus two stages is available in almost all the states. But in some states it is attached to universities and colleges. Thus there is a wide disparity in the secondary and higher secondary stages through out India. With the implementation of RMSA states are to take up 8+2+2 system of school education. That is 8 years of Primary education (First 5 years of which is Lower Primary and next 3 years Upper Primary), 2 years of Secondary education (class 9 and class10) and a final 2 years of Higher Secondary education(+1 and +2classes).

In short, RMSA envisages universalisation of Secondary education with the followings,

1.      Construction of science lab and libraries

2.      In-service  training for teachers

3.      Leadership training of school head

4.      Curriculum reforms

5.      Science and Mathematics education

6.      Computer aided education

7.      Co-curricular activities

8.      Teaching-Learning aids