Lok Sabha Question No. 106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Upgrading Primary Schools
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 106 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH SEPTEMBER, 2020

## Upgrading Primary Schools

## 106.   SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  under  the  Samagra  Siksha  Scheme  is  helping  the States to upgrade upper primary schools to composite schools;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  upper  primary  schools  identified  in  Andhra  Pradesh  for upgrading them to composite schools, district-wise;
- (c) the  details  of  infrastructure  and  other  facilities  provided  under  the  above upgradation of schools;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the State Government Andhra Pradesh's initiative  of  Naadu-Nedu  (Then  and  now)  to  improve  infrastructure  in  schools; and
- (e) if so, whether the Government proposes to extend help to the State Government in this endeavour?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) The Department of School Education and Literacy has launched an Integrated Scheme  for  School  Education  -  Samagra  Shiksha  which  subsumes  three  erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA)  and  Teacher  Education  (TE)  from  2018-19.  It  is  an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education.

Under the Scheme, the State and Union Territory Governments are supported in universalizing  access  to  school  education.  States  and  UTs  are  facilitated  to  move towards composite/integrated schools, by opening the new upper primary schools/sections in the campuses of existing primary schools through upgradation of the existing primary school. Similarly, secondary schools are opened through upgradation  of  existing  upper  primary  schools  and  senior  secondary  school  through upgradation  of  secondary  school. While  upgrading  schools,  priority  is  given  to  those schools which have adequate space and other infrastructure to be upgraded to next level of education, besides location in  uncovered  areas  and  having  adequate enrolment.

(b) and (c) Under  the  erstwhile  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  SSA  and  RMSA since inception and Samagra Shiksha, approval has been given so far for construction of  3848  primary,  1047  upper  primary  and  54  secondary  school  buildings  along  with other infrastructure till 2019-20. Further, approval has been given for opening of 34 new primary schools to the State of Andhra Pradesh with an estimate of Rs. 1388.90 lakh for the year 2020-21 under Samagra Shiksha.

(d) Yes, Sir.

(e) Under  Samagra  Shiksha,  States  and  UTs  are  supported  for  strengthening  of existing  government  schools,  and  for  creation  and  augmentation  of  infrastructure facilities based on proposals received from respective State/UT, their eligibility as per norms of the scheme and physical and financial progress of the State/UT in respect of works approved earlier.

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