Access & Retention | Samagra Shiksha Govt. of Meghalaya

To universalize quality school education, expansion of schooling facilities in the uncovered Habitations/areas would be a priority. Universal access to Education at all levels i.e from Pre-Primary to Higher Secondary level is the ability of all Children between the age group of 4-18 years to have equal opportunity in education, regardless of their social class, ethnicity, background or physical disabilities. In order to facilitate the access of education to all, Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 came into force for elementary education (age group of 6-14 years). But with the introduction of an Integrated Scheme on school education, it envisages education in a holistic perspective and as a range from Pre-primary, Primary, Upper Primary, and Secondary to Higher Secondary Levels, it facilitate the transition of children across all levels of School education and will help in promoting children to complete School Education. Universal access encourages a variety of pedagogical approaches to accomplish the dissemination of knowledge across the diversity of social, political, cultural, economic, national and biological backgrounds. Initially developed with the theme of equal opportunity access and inclusion of students with learning or physical disabilities, the themes governing universal access to education have now expanded across all forms of ability and diversity.

Access will not, therefore, be confined to ensuring that a school becomes accessible to all children within specified distances within the State, but implies an understanding of the educational needs. Considering our state Meghalaya, the capital city of Shillong which falls under East Khasi Hills District has been a hub for quality education since a long time. A number of good institutions have attracted people from not only different parts of the other States. But the states rural areas cannot boast of such education and remains a problem area. The fact that another part of the state has nine EBBs in Garo Hills areas speaks of the disparity that exists in different regions of the state. The rural /urban division is also prominent even in East Khasi Hills, the district with highest literacy rates

Meghalaya Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules 2011

4. Areas or limits for the purposes of section 6:-

1. The areas or limits of neighbourhood within which a school has to be established by the State Government shall be as under :

In respect of children in classes I to V, a school shall be established within a walking distance of one km of the neighbourhood.
In respect of children in classes VI to VIII, a school shall be established within a walking distance of 3 km of the neighbourhood.

2. Wherever required, the State Government shall upgrade existing schools with classes I to V to include classes VI to VIII. In respect of schools which start from class VI onwards, the State Government shall endeavor to add classes I to V, wherever required.

Meghalaya Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules 2011

3. In areas with difficult terrain, risk of landslides, floods, lack of roads and in general, danger for young children in the approach from their homes to the school, the State Government/Local Authority shall locate the school in such a manner as to avoid such dangers, by reducing the limits specified under sub-rule (1).

4. For children form small hamlets, as identified by the State Government/Local Authority, where no school exists within the area of limits of neighbourhood specified under sub-Rule (1) above, the State Government/Local Authority shall make adequate arrangements, such as free transportation, residential facilities and other facilities, for providing elementary education in a school, in relaxation of the limits specified under sub Rule (1).

5. In areas with high population density, the State Government/Local authority may consider establishment of more than one neighbourhood school, having regard to the number of children in the age group of 6 to 14 in such areas.

Samagra Shiksha

has completed the exercise of GIS mapping of schools, in which digitized map of the school data for all the districts was prepared and completed. In all, 14669 schools at all school category levels were mapped prior to layering the same with GIS Data except for 1047 schools where remapping of the same is under process as they fall outside the Block boundary. The GIS Data is being reconciled, updated and revised every year as per the coverage of UDISE Data. With the GIS Mapping exercise, the State derives a clear picture on the current availability of Schools, identification of school less habitations and helps in planning for providing access to school in the identified unserved areas/ habitations according to possible solutions.

Neighbourhood schools are obliged to grant admission to children from all sections of society living within specific Clusters, Blocks, and Districts. Such schools are to bring children from diverse social, economic and ethnic backgrounds together to help achieve larger desired objectives of integration and equity. Neighbourhood schools normally require active involvement of the local community and parents. Neighborhood schools in Meghalaya would include:-

Lower primary schools within a walking distance of one (1) kilometer.
Upper Primary Schools within a walking distance of three (3) kilometers.
Secondary Schools within a walking distance of three (3) to five (5) kilometers.
Higher Secondary Schools within a walking distance seven (7) kilometers.

To be able to implement the Right to Education at the right tract, there is a felt need to set up Neighbourhood school at the right earnest way. This will help in reaching out to the really remote areas to achieve quality of education. Our state is having a total of 8697 habitations as per 2020-21. Out of the total habitations, 7994 habitations are covered by Primary Schools, 7586 habitations are covered by Upper Primary Schools and 4892 habitations are covered by Secondary Schools.

Samagra Shiksha recognizes the need for special efforts for the retention of children. It also ensures students participation and completion of schooling cycle. The retention of children assumes greater significance in the wake of RTE Act which stipulates elementary education as a fundamental right of all children. In stating thus, the RTE Act opens up the whole sphere of circumstances which come in the way of a childs enrolment and participation in school, and his/her completion of the elementary stage. Similarly, there is a need for special efforts to retain the children, especially girls and children from disadvantaged sections, to school upto secondary level. This necessitates an attempt at listing of categories of children who might be at risk of completing their education and provisions available to ensure their participation and completion.

The Act, under Section 4 makes a specific provision for special training for age appropriate admission of out of school children. A majority of out-of-school children belong to disadvantaged communities: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Muslims, migrants, children with special needs, urban deprived children, working children, children in other difficult circumstances, for example, those living in difficult terrain, children from displaced families, and areas affected by civil strife, etc need Special Training. The Special Training will also focus on education of children affected by migration, Urban Deprived Children, Children in areas affected by civil strife, homeless children, children without adult protection etc. Special Training can be imparted in both residential and non residential mode.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009

Section-4 of the Act stipulates "Where a child above six years of age has not been admitted in any school or though admitted, could not complete his or her elementary education, then, he or she shall be admitted in a class appropriate to his or her age; "

"Provided that where a child is directly admitted in a class appropriate to his or her age, then, he or she shall, in order to be at par with others, have a right to receive special training, in such manner, and within such time-limits, as may be prescribed;"

"Provided further that a child so admitted to elementary education shall be entitled to free education till completion of elementary education even after fourteen years."