Samagra Shiksha Scheme
What is the Samagra Shiksha Scheme?
The United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015, one of which was Quality Education (SDG 4). The primary objective of this goal is to promote equality in education. The Government of India thus launched the Samagra Shiksha Scheme in 2018 in alignment with this SDG and the recommendations of the National Education Policy, 2020.
As per the scheme, school education must be treated as a whole without segmentation, and the curriculum should be holistic. Therefore, a new curricular structure (5+3+3+4) has been introduced instead of the 10+2 structure based on the objectives of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Objectives of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Here are the primary objectives of the scheme in detail:
- Assist states and UTs in implementing the National Education Policy 2020.
- Contribute to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (2009) through implementation and reinforcement.
- Focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
- Emphasise foundational literacy and numeracy.
- Replace conventional teaching methods with modern systems that include children in all learning activities and encourage active learning.
- Improve the quality of education and raise learning achievements.
- Eliminate social and gender gaps in school education.
- Ensure equity and inclusion at all stages of school education.
- Strengthen DIETs, State Institutes of Education, and SCERTs to improve teacher training.
- Guarantee safe, secure, and conducive learning environments.
- Promote vocational education to improve economic employability.
Features of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Here are some of the key features of this scheme.
Holistic Approach To Education
The scheme treats school education holistically from preschool to class 12, addressing the entire education spectrum for the first time. This unified approach ensures continuity and consistency in educational standards and practices.
Administrative Reform-
Administrative reforms under Samagra Shiksha focus on decentralising decision-making to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of school management. This includes empowering school management committees and involving local communities in the educational process.
Focus on Quality Education
The scheme aims to enhance the quality of education by focusing on teachers and technological advancements. It supports initiatives like the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan to promote learning in mathematics and science and the Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat Program to develop foundational skills at the primary level. Strengthening teacher education institutions such as DIETs and SCERTs is a priority, with SCERT being the nodal institution for teacher training. The scheme also provides library grants ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000 for all schools.
Concentrating on Digital Education
The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan has supported Operation Digital Board in all secondary schools over five years. This aims to revolutionise education through technology-based learning, covering digital boards, smart classrooms and enhancing digital initiatives like Shagun and UDISE+. The scheme also aims to strengthen ICT infrastructure from the upper primary to the higher secondary levels.

Promoting Skill Development, Sports, and Physical Education
The scheme extends exposure to vocational skills at the upper primary level. It integrates vocational education from class 9 to class 12, making it more industry-oriented and practical. This reinforces the emphasis on the ‘Kaushal Vikas’ scheme. Furthermore, sports education is integrated into the curriculum, with all schools receiving sports equipment grants. This amount is Rs. 5,000 for primary schools, Rs.10,000 for upper primary schools, and Rs. 25,000 for secondary and senior secondary schools. The scheme thus emphasises the importance of sports in overall student development.
Focus on Regional Balance
To address regional disparities in education, the Samagra Shiksha scheme aims to provide additional support to educationally backward regions like Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts, Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs), border areas, Special Focus Districts (SFDs), and the 117 aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog. This includes special interventions and funding to ensure that all children have access to quality education regardless of their geographical location.
What are the Benefits of the Samagra Shiksha Schem? The benefits of the Samagra Shiksha Scheme include:
- Improved Access to Education: Ensures children from marginalised and disadvantaged communities have better access to educational facilities, increasing enrollment rates.
- Enhanced Learning Outcomes: Focuses on the quality of education and aims to improve student performance in key areas such as literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking.
- Reduction in Dropout Rates: Aims to reduce dropout rates and keep children in school through initiatives such as mid-day meals, scholarships, and free textbooks.
- Better School Infrastructure: Funds the construction and maintenance of school buildings, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and toilets, creating a conducive learning environment.
- Integration of Technology: Promotes digital education, equipping students and teachers with modern technological tools and resources and preparing them for a digital future.
- Improved Teacher Quality: Enhances the quality of teaching through professional development programs, in-service training, and improved teacher education institutions.
- Holistic Development: Emphasises sports, physical education, and extracurricular activities to ensure the all-round development of students. This helps foster not just academic but also social and physical skills.
Implementation Strategy of Samagra Shiksha The implementation strategy of the Samagra Shiksha scheme involves a multi-pronged approach comprising:
- Decentralised Planning and Management: Encourages decentralised planning at the district and school levels, involving local authorities, school management committees, and community members in the decision-making process.
- Regular Monitoring and Evaluation: A robust monitoring and evaluation framework ensures the effective use of resources and the achievement of educational targets. This includes regular assessments, data collection, and reporting to track progress.
- Capacity Building: Emphasises building the capacity of teachers, school leaders, and educational administrators through professional development programs, workshops, and training sessions.
- Community Participation: Aims to create a supportive environment for students by involving parents, NGOs, and local communities in the educational process, enhancing overall accountability.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Encourages partnerships with private sector organisations and NGOs to leverage additional resources, expertise, and innovative educational practices.
Initiatives Under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme The Samagra Shiksha Scheme integrates three major educational initiatives:
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and the Teacher Education (TE) program. This unified approach aims to enhance the quality of education at all levels and ensure comprehensive educational reforms. Here’s taking a detailed look at each initiative:
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Launched in 2001, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) aimed at universalising elementary education across India, focusing on providing free and compulsory education to children between 6 to 14 years of age (as mandated by the Right to Education Act, 2009).
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan: The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) was launched in 2009. The initiative's goal was to boost the quality of secondary education and make it available to all children between 14 and 18 years of age.
- Teacher Education Program: The Teacher Education (TE) program strengthens institutional infrastructure for pre-service and in-service teacher training. It aims to enhance teachers' professional development and ensure they are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to provide high-quality education.