Government of India Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of School Education and Literacy ***** MINUTES OF THE PROJECT APPROVAL BOARD (PAB) MEETING HELD ON THE 12TH MARCH, 2015 FOR APPROVAL OF ANNUAL WORK PLAN & BUDGET 2015-16 OF HARYANA UNDER THE CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEME OF INTEGRATED RASHTRIYA MADHYAMIK SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (RMSA). 1. Integrated RMSA PAB meeting to consider the Annual Work Plan & Budget 2015-16 under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA, including the components of ICT@ Schools, Girls’ Hostels, Vocational Education and Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS)) for the State of Haryana was held on the 12th March, 2015, under the Chairpersonship of Smt. Vrinda Sarup, Secretary (School Education &Literacy), Ministry of Human Resource Development, GOI, New Delhi. The list of participants who attended the meeting is attached at Annexure-I. RASHTRIYA MADHYAMIK SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (RMSA) 2. Secretary (SE&L) welcomed all the participants and in her opening remarks appreciated the efforts of the State and the overall progress made under RMSA. However, indicating to the outstanding committed liabilities of ` 337.64 crores under non-recurring civil works under RMSA for the State, she expressed concern over the general backlog of civil works in States/UTs and slow progress in completing these works which significantly limits the capacity of States/UTs to upgrade new schools. The Chairperson referred to the Swachh Vidyalaya initiative and the State was also advised to ensure completion of all the toilets sanctioned under RMSA under new/upgraded Schools and under strengthening expeditiously. She also informed that the construction of toilet works approved during special PABs held in November- December, 2014 to fill up the gaps indicated as per UDISE 2013, for which the Central Share of non-recurring grant has already been released, has to be completed by the State by May, 2015. She advised that gaps of toilets, if any, in the government secondary schools, based on UDISE 2014, should be included by the States in their AWP&B proposals for 2015-16. On interventions focused on quality, the Chairperson shared with the State the initiative being taken under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan to focus on subjects of science and mathematics and the need for States to synergise and enhance their efforts towards impacting the overall quality of science and maths education in secondary schools including building capacity of maths and science teachers. Informing of NCERT's specific efforts in developing modules for teacher training in science and mathematics, she requested that States must utilize these in-service training resources to train its teachers. 1 The Chairperson also shared the initiative of ‘Kala Utsav’, a national event that would build on State’s current activities to promote and encourage local Arts and cultural heritage amongst its students. This would be steered by NCERT in coordination with States and a specific line item with funds is being earmarked in the current Plan approvals. Detailed note on ‘Kala Utsav’ is being shared with States separately (Annexure-VII). The Chairperson reiterated the need for States to ensure appointment of Secondary School Teachers with prescribed (by NCTE) qualifications only, as any gap in this regard is bound to have an adverse impact on the quality of secondary education. She noted that support under RMSA would be conditioned upon State’s adherence to these basic norms. It was informed that the NUEPA has developed a framework of national School Standards and Evaluation, that aims to bring out key facets of school standards, and its evaluation for further school improvement. Funds are being provisioned for a 3 day orientation workshop of educational administrators both at district and state level, on the framework and its implementation. NUEPA has been requested to develop a module that can be used by the States to conduct the orientation workshop. It is also important that selection of first set of these educational administrators for this workshop is done in a manner so as to ensure that they in turn are able to conduct further sensitization of their teams. While expressing her concern over quality of inclusion the Chairperson emphasised the need for States to pay more attention to availability and support of special educators, identification of CWSN and focused support to their learning needs. Secretary (SE&L) also requested the State to extend full cooperation for conduct of the National Achievement Survey being conducted by the NCERT. Dr. Suparna S. Pachouri, Director (RMSA-IV), Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development presented the Education Indicators for the State of Haryana (Annexure-II). 4. The areas of concern highlighted include:- Out of 53 Schools approved, 51 are functional, 19 are constructed, 10 in progress and 24 not yet started; Against 2313 Schools approved under strengthening, 70 % work has been completed; Against 36 GH, 2 are functional, 33 are in different stages of construction and 3 are yet to be allotted; State is showing very less enrollment of girls in the hostels. Under ICT, 3217 School have been approved against which 1600 have completed 5 years, 1617 are in progress. However 108 Schools are duplicate and hence are cancelled; There are 10 Schools without toilet; Educational Indicators: i. As per indicators, Mewat is the most educationally backward district in Haryana which needs special attention and interventions. 2 ii. State has not provided the dropout rate and retention rate for the year 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15. iii. The pass % for the year 2014 is 59.4% which is very low needs special attention. It was observed that the School mapping exercise conducted by the state seems a part of the routine exercise in the district, which is used to be done by the district, for general selection of the schools for upgradation before inception of RMSA. The selection of the upper primary schools for upgradation was based on the decision of the district head, and scientific procedure for selection of school is missing in the mapping exercise. Against approval for 290 teachers for new Schools, 73 are in position; 5. Shri Alok Verma, State Project Director, RMSA Haryana apprised the PAB that the under ICT 108 Schools are duplicate. Hence PAB cancelled 108 duplicate ICT Schools which were approved in the following years (List at Annexure-VIII):- 02 Schools – Approved in 2007- 08 98 Schools – Approved in 2009- 10 08 Schools – Approved in 2010- 11 Under Vocational Education, the proposal for allocation of funds to Centre of Excellence in Applied Learning Skills, Faridabad was not approved by the PAB and the State was advised to first get the task completed/funds utilised as earmarked for the centre last year. He also intimated that the construction of all the new Schools is likely to be completed by October, 2015 and strengthening of existing Schools will be completed by December, 2015. The pending work in respect of Girl’s Hostel will be completed by March, 2016. 6. Annual Work Plan and Budget for 2015-16: Thereafter, the intervention-wise discussion was held and the following decisions were taken and approval accorded: S. No. Activities A Committed Outlay A1 Non-Recurring The spill-over of ` 337.6479 crore on account of civil interventions sanctioned for new Schools, strengthening, construction of girls hostels under girls hostel Scheme, Vocational Education Scheme and Non-recurring component of ICT Scheme was approved. Details at Annexure-V. A2 Recurring 3 2 Salary: 2.1 Staff for New Schools Sanctioned in Previous Years (2009-2015) Principals (HM)/ Subject Teachers: (i) Financial support for salary for 12 months for 29 Principals (HM) in position as per UDISE @ ` 45570 per month was approved for a total sum of ` 158.58 Lakhs. The breakup of salary is – Grade Pay of ` 5400/- , Initial of Pay Band – `15,600/-, DA (107%) – ` 22,470/- and HRA (10%) – ` 2100/-. (ii) Salary for 12 months for 73 Subject Teachers in position in RMSA Schools as per UDISE 2014-15 @ `30163/- per month was approved for a total sum of ` 264.23 Lakh. The breakup of salary is – Grade Pay of `4600/-, Initial of Pay Band – `9,300/-, DA (107%) – ` 14,873/- and HRA (10%) – `1390/-. 2.2 Additional Staff for Existing Schools Sanctioned Till 2014-15: Financial support for salary for 12 months for 7223 subject teachers in position as per UDISE 2014-15 @ `30163/- per month was approved for a total sum of ` 26144.08 Lakh. The breakup of salary is – Grade Pay of `4600/-, Initial of Pay Band – `9,300/-, DA (107%) – `14,873/- and HRA (10%) – `1390/-. 2.3 Flexible Pool of Funds for Engaging Resource Persons in 240 Schools Implementing Vocational Education Scheme was approved for an amount of `2030.00 Lakh (@ `8.46 Lakhs per School). 2.4 Special Educators: Special Pay for 324 Special Educators in position and found eligible for 12 months as per following rates;- (i) 189 teachers approved @ `22,050/- per month; (ii) 131 teachers approved @ `18,900/- per month; (iii) 04 teachers approved @ `15,759/- per month and; (iv) Special pay for all 324 teachers approved @ `400/- per month. Total outlay approved is `820.31 Lakhs for Special Educators. Training: 3. i. In-Service Training: Approval was accorded for in-service training for 3314 language and SST teachers including teaching Principals @ `300/- per day for 10 days with total outlay of ` 99.42 Lakh with a condition that the in service training will include component on ICT, inclusive education, guidance and counseling, gender sensitization, training on UDISE as well. ii. Induction Training for New Teachers: Induction Training of 1541 teachers for New Schools @ `300/- per day for 10 Days is approved with 4 an outlay of `46.23 Lakh.