Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Right to Education Act (RTE), two major initiative of 21st century in education were initiated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when he was the Prime Minister of India. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan a centrally sponsored scheme, was pioneered by Vajpayee with an aim to make education accessible to all child of 6 to 14 years of age group in the country. The implementation of this flagship program has actually changed the education narrative of the country and brought education of first generation learners a priority in political discourse.
The SSA program in partnership with states was launched in 2000-2001 and has achieved success in making elementary education for all. The program has been successful in erecting schooling infrastructure all over the country. For primary schools, the enrolment has been close to 100 percent. Over 19.67 crore children are enrolled in 14.5 lakh elementary schools in the country with more than 66 lakh teachers.
Vajpayee never visualized SSA as a program, he certainly thought in terms of movement. Movement to bring all children to school and give them dream and aspirations of meaningful future. I was fortunate to be a part of this movement. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had a clear vision that education is the most important and primary path that can lead India towards development and world recognition. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was visualized to provide glimpse of future to all those first-generation children whose parents and grand-parents have never been to school. This initiative also provided aspirations to millions of government schools established in every nook and corner for poor and under privileged children.
The implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan paved way for more revolutionary idea of Right to Education Act. This was a continuation of Article 21 A introduced in the Constitution in 2002 by the 86th Amendment when A.B Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. It took eight years to roll it at the grassroot level. I am not sure whether the Act actually fulfilled his dream of educating India, but at-least this certainly paved to bring meaningful dialogue in bringing quality education to all children in the country.
The education plan which he visualized was certainly not only in terms of entitlement but also to bring all children, rich and poor, into similar quality schooling environment. The idea of neighborhood school and Common School System were certainly in his mind.
In recent years central government is trying to bring reforms in the education by integrating program of primary, elementary and secondary education into one but how far this centralized approach will succeed only time will tell. But I think the true tribute to visionary approach of Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be to provide more resource to education and decentralize the process which can make state governments more accountable in improving learning outcomes..
Central Government’s education budget in real terms has decreased in last few years and effort has been made to dilute the provisions of Right to Education. Hope good sense will prevail with the government and Vajpayee’s dream of educating the last child is fulfilled.
May his soul rest in peace..
Kamal Nath Jha 