About the event
The newly launched Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SMSA) is an education programme which will overhaul India’s schooling system. Subsuming 3 big Centrally Sponsored Schemes -the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education, its intent is to significantly improve quality of learning from pre-school to class XII. The creation of the umbrella programme is unique on another count. Through it, the centre makes an attempt to enhance the budgetary flexibility of state governments within a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The move is in keeping with the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations of allowing states to set priorities and design education interventions based on their needs.
The second Policy In-Depth seminar for 2018 explores the first few months of SMSA as its implementation gathers full swing. The session will delve into the evolution of reformative education policies in India including their stated, as well as, unintended consequences. The financial implication of the convergence of the 3 schemes and resultant challenges will also be deliberated.
About the speaker
Dr Manisha Priyam is an Associate Professor, National Insitute of Educational Planning and Administration. An academic and researcher, she has closely examined the politics of India’s education policy reforms in a comparative perspective. She also has over two decades experience of working with donors, policy makers, administrators and stakeholders in policy formulation, implementation, and evaluations. She has previously worked for the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, the World Bank, and the UNDP on projects of tertiary education reform, primary education reform, and urban social policies.
The session will be moderated by Avani Kapur, Director, Accountability Initiative.
About the Policy In-Depth Series
The Policy In-Depth Series hosted by Accountability Initiative at the Centre for Policy Research deliberates on the implementation of key welfare programmes in India, the policy decisions that direct their course and the impact this has on citizens.
