ATHIRA RAJANNATURAL SCIENCE

MTTC, PATHANAPURAM

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry ofHuman Resource Development, Government ofIndia, for the development of secondaryeducation in public schools throughout India.

It was launched in March 2009.It aims to provide universal education for all

children between 15–16 years of age.

OBJECTIVESTo improve quality of education imparted at

secondary level through making all secondary schoolsconform to prescribed norms.

To remove gender, socio-economic and disabilitybarriers.

Universal access to secondary level education by2017, i.e., by the end of the XII Five Year Plan.

Universal retention by 2020.

ACTION PLANSRMSA is planned to promote secondaryeducation by establishing in every targetschool the following infrastructure:

Additional class roomsLaboratoriesLibrariesArt and crafts roomToilet blocksDrinking water provisionsResidential hostels for teachers in

remote areas

In addition it aims to provideadditional teachers to reduce student-teacher to 30:1, focus on science,mathematics and English education,in-service training of teachers, sciencelaboratories, ICT-enabled education,curriculum reforms, and teaching-learning reforms

Quality ImprovementIn school, there was promotion of the sciencelaboratories, environmental education, promotionof yoga, as well as centrally sponsored schemes ofpopulation education project, internationalmathematics and science olympiads. The stategovernments provide in-service training for theteachers and provide infrastructure and researchinputs.

Four major heads

Information communication technologies(ICT)ICT comprises the centrally sponsored schemes like computereducation and literacy in schools (CLASS) and educationaltechnology (ET) which familiarizes the student withInformation technology (IT).

funding support towards computer education plansstrengthening and reorientation of the staffs of SIETS - stateinstitutes of education and trainingc) there is digitalization of SIETs audio and video cassetteswith the partnership of NGOsd) management of internet-based education by SIETs.

Access and equityRMSA not only emphasizes on providing secondaryeducation for the special focus groups thatinclude scheduled tribe and scheduled castegroups, minority girls and CWSN children, but it alsogive importance on removing the existing disparities insocio-economic and gender background in thesecondary level of education.

Integrated education for disabled children (IEDC)Inclusive education have been highlighted to bringabout expansion in terms of meeting/catering tothe needs of the mentally and physicallydisadvantaged children. This schemes continues tobe a separate centrally sponsored scheme. Itincludes several components for convergence withintegrated child development services for earlyinterventions, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for theparticular group at the elementary level, andspecial schools