Government approves HRD Ministry's proposal of constructing new schools

NEW DELHI: Government today approved a proposal to execute civil works for construction of new schools as well as expanding the capacity in existing ones under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

The the Union Human Resource Development Ministry's proposal was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Under the scheme, the fund required for Management, Monitoring Evaluation and Research (MMER) of schools can be increased from 2.2 per cent to four per cent of their total outlay.

Out of the enhanced MMER of four per cent, fund up to 3.5 per cent of the annual budget will be earmarked to the states for their own activities, a release said here.

In states where the proposed percentages of MMER do not meet the requirement, it can be enhanced upto five per cent of their budget allocation.

The objective of the scheme is to enhance access and improve quality of education at the secondary stage while ensuring equity, it said.

The umbrella scheme of RMSA will be implemented at state- level by RMSA society.

Though the broad strategy and the targets of the scheme will not undergo any change, the Cabinet decision will provide necessary impetus to the ongoing implementation of the scheme, the release said.