The NCERT report found that Out of the 5,639 approved Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV), 4,260 were fully functional, 799 were partially functional, and 580 were completely non-functional as of June 30, 2023.
- This is the third such evaluation carried out since 2007
About Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV)
- About: KGBVs are residential schools for girls that were set up by the Union government in 2004.
- Target Group: Students belong predominantly to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and minority communities in educationally backward blocks where female rural literacy is below the national average and the gender gap in literacy is above the national average.
- Girls aged 10-18 years from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
- About: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
- Established in: Established in 1961, it operates as a literary, scientific, and charitable society under the Societies Registration Act.
- Headquarters: The headquarters are located at Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
- Objective: To design and support a common system of education for the country that is national in character, as well as to enable and encourage the diverse cultural practices across the country as a whole
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- Educational Coverage
- Samagra Shiksha aims to bridge gender and social category gaps in school education by encouraging girls’ participation.
- As part of this, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) have been extended to provide residential and schooling facilities up to Class XII.
- Provides access to education from Classes VI to XII.
- Aims to ensure a smooth transition from elementary to secondary education.
- Facility Provision: Establishes at least one residential school for girls from Classes VI-XII in each educationally backward block (EBB).
Key Issues Highlighted in NCERT Report on KGBVs
- Funding and Financial Management
- Funding Transparency and Utilisation Issues: Lack of transparency in fund utilisation and significant non-utilization of allocated funds, with ₹4,443.13 crore allocated in 2019-20 but only ₹32.57 crore utilised.
- Delays and System Inefficiencies: Delays in disbursement and release of funds by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and states highlight the need for a more efficient system to ensure timely release and effective utilisation of funds.
- Infrastructure and Functionality
- Functionality Status and Regional Discrepancies: Of 5,639 approved KGBVs, 4,260 are fully functional, 799 partially functional, and 580 non-functional as of June 30, 2023.
- High percentages of non-functional KGBVs are found in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
- Construction and Operational Challenges: Issues include non-completion of construction, land disputes, and delays in approval processes.
- Recommendations suggest converting standalone KGBV hostels to integrate with nearby state schools for a more inclusive education approach.
- Staffing and Human Resources
- Shortage and Retention Issues: Significant shortage of regular and full-time teaching and administrative staff.
- Only 19% (44) teachers are full-time regular staff in KGBVs; the majority (623) are contractual positions; 70 teachers were working on deputation.
- Low retention rates due to low wages, job insecurity, and remote locations.
- High turnover among teachers, with only 3% having over 15 years of experience.
- Warden Availability and Issues: Wardens are present in only two-thirds of KGBVs. Problems include restrictions on living with family and high turnover rates among wardens.
- Student Safety and Welfare
- Concerns over student safety: 65.6% of girls did not respond to safety queries, and one-third felt unsafe.
- Most KGBVs have boundary walls or fencing, CCTV cameras, safety pledges, and complaint boxes, though some security features are inadequate.
- Psychological impact on students: significant percentages reporting stress, sadness, anxiety, and mood swings.
- Inadequate facilities in hostels: 84.3% of KGBVs have beds and bedding, though overcrowded conditions are common, there are also reported issues of insufficient heating in colder regions.
- Sanitary facilities: Free sanitary napkins provided in 210 KGBVs, with 125 having vending machines, 107 of which are functional.
- Teaching Standards and Academic Quality
- Predominance of contractual and deputation-based staff (19% full-time regular) is affecting academic quality, highlighting a need for improvement in teaching standards and teacher retention.
- Recommendations for Improvement
- Update Opening Criteria: Use more recent census data to update the criteria for opening new KGBVs.
- Expand Coverage: Open KGBVs in unserved areas, including aspirational districts and North-Eastern states like Mizoram and Nagaland.
- Address Key Issues: Tackle outdated infrastructure, staff shortages, and safety concerns to enhance the effectiveness of KGBVs.
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Samagra Shiksha Scheme Overview
- Key Provisions
- Integrated Scheme: Covers education from pre-school to Class XII to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.
- Incorporates Previous Schemes: Subsumes Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE).
- Holistic Approach: Treats school education as a continuum from Preschool to Class 12.
- Focus Areas: Emphasises improving the quality of education with a focus on Teacher and Technology.
- Vision
- Inclusive and Equitable Education: Aims to ensure quality education from pre-school to senior secondary in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- SDG-4.1: Ensure all boys and girls complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education with effective learning outcomes.
- SDG-4.5: Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels.
- Alignment with Right to Education Act
- Support for RTE: Aims to assist States in implementing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which is a fundamental right under Article 21-A of the Indian Constitution.
- Funding Pattern
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Fund sharing is in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States, and 60:40 for other States and Union Territories with Legislature.
- 100% Central Funding: For Union Territories without Legislature.
- Flexibility for States and UTs: Allows States and UTs to plan and prioritise interventions within the scheme norms and available resources.
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August 13, 2024
