List of Government Schemes for School Education in India

Education is essential for economic, political, and social transformation. In the twenty-first century, a population that is well-educated and equipped with relevant skills, attitudes, and knowledge is needed for the overall development of society. Education plays a crucial role in creating a just and equitable society.

India’s population is around 1.32 billion. The education system in this country has undergone many changes over the years as per the growing needs and demands. The standard of education in India has been getting better, and many children are securing higher marks through quality education. This is because the government is trying to encourage children with the help of various schemes that provide better facilities. They have implemented many changes and education schemes in India to improve the standard and style of training and teaching. Many state governments have sent a few teachers to foreign educational institutions to update their skills and knowledge and improve their teaching quality.

School Education Government Schemes for Kids

The government has started numerous projects and programs to achieve the universalisation of elementary education. In keeping with the National Policy of Education principles, the government has created various schemes to ensure equitable education for all. These schemes aim to improve access to good education by expanding good schools, promoting equity and improving the basic quality of education. Here are a few schemes related to education in India.

1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)

This program was introduced in 2001 and is one of the most significant projects in India. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a flagship program for children to get Universal Elementary Education (UEE). This program covers the entire country and partners with local and state governments. SSA is mainly beneficial for children between the ages of 6 to 14. The program aims to universalise education and improve its quality through a time-bound implementation strategy and context-specific planning. It includes children from all social classes.

2. National Program for Education of Girls at Elementary Education (NPEGEL)

The Government of India has initiated the NPEGEL program to reach girls, especially girls that are not enrolled in a school. The program was started in July 2003 and is a significant component of the SSA. The program provides extra support for improving the education of girls. Some objectives under this scheme are developing gender-sensitive learning materials, gender-sensitisation of teachers, and provisions like stationary, uniforms, and workbooks. The main focus of this program is to break gender stereotypes and ensure girls get a good education at the elementary level.

3. Midday Meal Scheme

Otherwise known as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, this plan was launched in 1995 to provide mid-day meals to children studying in primary class. The main objective of creating this scheme was to eliminate children’s classroom hunger and increase attendance and enrolment of children at schools. This scheme also aims to improve the interaction between children of all castes and religions. It also addresses the issue of inadequate and improper nutrition among children. Women are also socially empowered since the scheme creates employment opportunities. Thus, this scheme can help in developing children emotionally and socially.

4. Right to Education (RTE) Act

This was another amazing step taken by the government. The Right to Education (RTE) Act was enacted in 2009, and this Act made education for every child between 6 and 14 years a fundamental right. It also set the basic norms that must be followed by every elementary school in the country. Thus, children got the right to receive free elementary education. This means that no child has to pay any kind of charges or fee to complete education up to elementary level. The RTE act also aims at the development of a curriculum that makes sure the child receives the benefit of all-round development, building their knowledge, talent, and potential. The Right to Education Act has made it compulsory to reserve 25 per cent in private schools for children from economically weaker families.

5. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

This scheme initiated in 2015 is one of the most famous central government schemes for girl education. The main aim of this government scheme was initially to protect girl children from female foeticide and infanticide and later, provide assistance for their education. Other objectives of the plan include stopping the practice of gender-determination tests and discrimination against girl children. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme ensures the protection of girls and their survival and makes sure that girls participate in educational activities alongside boys. This scheme thus spreads the awareness that girl children are not a burden.

6. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya

Launched in 2004, the KGBV scheme aims at setting up residential schools for girls belonging to minority communities at the upper primary level. This scheme is mainly implemented in the parts of the country where girls aren’t enrolled in school. This scheme provides reservation of 25% to girls from families below the poverty line and the rest 75% to the girls belonging to ST, SC, OBC, and other minority communities. The main idea behind this scheme is that by setting up residential schools, girls from disadvantaged groups of the society can access quality education.

7. Scheme for Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutes (IDMI)

To improve the quality of education, the scheme has been started to improve infrastructure in unaided/aided minority schools. The salient features of this scheme include expanding facilities that will help the education of children from minority communities. The entire country comes under this scheme, but preference is given to places that have a minority population above 20 per cent. The scheme also encourages educational facilities for children with special needs, girls, and others who are mostly held back in society.

8. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, launched in 2009, is a government scheme focused on improving the quality of secondary education. It aims to increase enrollment in secondary schools, enhance infrastructure, provide training to teachers, and promote vocational education. By strengthening the secondary education system, RMSA encourages children to continue their education beyond elementary, ensuring their overall educational development.

9. Bal Bandhu Scheme

The Bal Bandhu Scheme, launched by the Government of India in October 2010, focuses on providing educational support and motivation to children from vulnerable sections of society. It aims to prevent child labour and encourage school enrollment by offering financial assistance, scholarships, uniforms, textbooks, and other necessary materials. The scheme provides a supportive framework for children, motivating them to attend school regularly and pursue their education.

10. National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)

The National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education is a government scheme launched in 2008. It was aimed at promoting girls’ education in rural areas. Under this scheme, eligible girls enrolling in class 9th and completing their secondary education receive a financial incentive of INR 3000. The scheme encourages girls to continue their education beyond elementary by providing a monetary reward, motivating them to attend and complete their secondary schooling.

11. Integrated Education for Disabled Children (IEDC)

The Ministry of Welfare, Central Government of India, launched the IEDC programme in 1974 to encourage integrating children with mild to moderate impairments into regular schools. The programme was also created to encourage the continued enrollment of disabled children in the regular education system.

In recent decades, the implementations of these schemes have made it easier to access schools, and the enrolment rates in primary schools have gotten higher. India also sees a decrease in dropout rates. Primarily due to the above list of government schemes for education in India, primary education in our country has become a success story even in the remote parts of the country.

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