GK Daily Online Test -300
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme was launched by the Government of
India in August, 2004 for setting up residential schools at upper primary level for girls
belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities in difficult areas. The scheme is
being implemented in educationally backward blocks (EBBs) of the country where the female
rural literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is above the national
average. The scheme provides for a minimum reservation of 75% of the seats for girls
belonging to SC, ST, OBC or minority communities and priority for the remaining 25%, is
accorded to girls from families below poverty line.
The KGBV has been merged with the SSA programme as a separate component of that
programme during the XIth Five Year Plan since 1st April, 2007. The objective of KGBV is to
ensure access and quality education to the girls of disadvantaged groups of society by setting
up residential schools at upper primary level.
As decided by the DEAC (Development Evaluation Advisory Committee), PEO, erstwhile
Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) along with its field offices of REOs/PEOs undertook
the evaluation of the scheme.
The present evaluation study uses a multi stage simple random sampling methodology for
selection of 18 states, 50 districts, 50 KGBV schools (one in each district), 100 teachers (2 in
each KGBV) and 250 beneficiary students and 250 beneficiary parents (5 per KGBV).The
study reference period is from 2004-05 to 2011-12.
1. Management of KGBVs
Although Education Department/ SSA are the nodal agencies at the states/ district level, there
are wide variations in the management of KGBVs within and across the states. Different
agencies both government and NGOs are involved in the management of KGBVs.
Some of the states have adopted single model, while others followed more than one. Some
states have fixed their own norms (deviation from the central norms) with regard to number of
students.
All the states have constituted state level teams/committees for effective monitoring of
KGBVs. However, the composition and the roles assigned vary from state to state.
Some state governments have introduced classes higher than Class VIII and provided
additional funds too (e.g. Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Uttarakhand). There is a
general demand from the parents, teachers and community as a whole for extending KGBV at
least up to class X.
About 88% of the schools reported on existence of Parent/Mother Teacher Association in the
school. However, the associations are mainly supervising the work rather than assisting in the
functioning of KGBVs.
ii Evaluation Study on Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas(KGBVs)
2. Flow of Funds
It is pertinent to mention about the revisions in SSA norms effective from 1st April 2014
allowing for revision in the recurring costs of KGBV component of the SSA programme that
had not been revised since 2004.
The responses of state level officials on the state-wise targets and achievements on various
KGBV parameters such as opening new KGBVs, upgrading existing schools to KGBVs,
appointment of male and female teachers, construction of school buildings and additional
classrooms point out that the state-wise targets have been more or less achieved except in the
case of appointment of female teachers and construction of school buildings where significant
performance gaps have been observed. Also, no targets seem to be fixed for construction of
additional classrooms in almost all states, as of end of financial year 2011-12.
Construction work and non-appointment of female teachers are key reasons cited by the state
authorities for gaps in allocation and expenditure. Further, low strength of girl children,
untimely availability of funds and low teachers’ strength emerge as reasons for underutilization
of funds by KGBV authorities.
3. Infrastructure of KGBVs
About 79.6% of KGBV students opined that the classroom remain unaffected in rainy seasons.
On computers and related infrastructure, about 79% students reported availability of computers
in KGBVs with only 32% students using them frequently/often. About 54% of the students
knew the basic operations (switch on, switch off etc.) of computers. Also, 80% of students
agreed to existence of libraries in KGBV.
On safety and security issue, 72.4% students reported that KGBV hostels have boundary walls
and 68% were satisfied with the security arrangements in hostels.
It seems majority of KGBV students would not have enrolled/sustained in the system had there
been no residential/hostel facilities in these schools.
Among the girl students who feel that there is indeed a security problem in KGBV
schools/hostels, about 41% of the selected girls feel that lack of boundary wall makes them feel
insecure and 31% girls feel that lack of security guard is a matter of concern for their security.
4. Role of Teachers
There is no uniform practice for the engagement of teachers across the states. However, in all
the selected schools temporary teachers have been appointed. In some schools, the principals
and teachers of the attached school (for type 3 model) are working as principals/teachers while
in other schools teachers/principals have been appointed on deputation basis.
About 77% teachers are not satisfied with the amount of salary they are receiving. There is big
difference between the remuneration of permanent and temporary teachers. On an average a
permanent teacher get a monthly salary of Rs. 19162 to 26382 whereas the temporary/
contractual teachers get Rs. 5624 to Rs. 10584.
iii Evaluation Study on Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas(KGBVs)
The number of teachers per school is less than the requirement as about 53 % students reported
that separate teachers are not available for each subject. Furthermore, the teachers of KGBVs
are also involved in the hostel management.
5. Students in KGBV
Most of the students studying in KGBVs are matching to their age which is found in the
regular schools. Hence it seems that not many dropout and out of schools students are studying
in KGBVs. It is observed that there is lack of clarity about “who are eligible for admission in
KGBVs” and “how to identify the eligible girls”. It is also observed that no standardized and
uniform method is followed for the identification of girls for the admission in KGBVs. In none
of the selected KGBVs, the girls are selected from the list of Drop Out Students (DOS) and Out
of School Child (OOSC), available at the cluster level. However, it is found that good
proportion of students from the selected schools is from the disadvantaged families.
About 52% of the selected schools have informed that children with special needs are studying.
Only in Bihar special arrangement have been observed for SWN girls (provision for 25% of the
total seat and one teacher). At the national level, SWN girls in about 35% of the selected
KGBVs receive any type of incentive (mostly in terms of equipments). Only 4% of the selected
schools receive any type of grant for CSWN.
Except in Odisha, all other states follow the strategy for bridging the OOSC and DOS before
formally admitting them in class VI. However, there is no curriculum, no separate classes
(except in Gujarat) and no teachers’ training for this purpose. Different schools follow their
own methods for bridging the OOSC and DOS.
Only about 56% schools have informed that scholarship is provided to the students. The
amount of scholarship is Rs. 50 per month in most cases.
Most of the principals/teachers and more than half of the students said that the free hostel
facility is the main attraction in the KGBVs. They feel that in absence of this facility, students
will not continue their studies.
As per the response of KGBV authorities, majority of examinations in KGBV (about 46%)
were held half-yearly and about 74% of the evaluations are by means of unit tests. 63% of the
KGBV teachers also responded that they evaluate the performance of students via unit tests and
53% of them remarked that students get scholarships regularly. About 48% of KGBV students
responded that they get scholarships of Rs. 50 per month per student. Only 18% KGBVs and
7% students responded that CWSN assistance is provided to children with special needs by
way of brail books, extra coaching and counseling, provision of wheel chairs, and provision of
special equipment etc.
6. Innovative Practices in KGBVs
About 90% of the school authorities responded that the schools followed a strategy for
mainstreaming out-of-school /dropout children and 66% reported that the enrolment drives
iv Evaluation Study on Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas(KGBVs)
were in place in respective villages for mainstreaming out of school children or dropouts or
minority girls. Some innovative practices followed were:
Awareness drives in communities involving KGBV girls on child marriage, dowry system and
to motivate the parents of irregular, dropout and never enrolled girls to send their daughters to
school; Capacity building of female teachers through block level structured initiatives and
formation of resource pool for training ; Issues/concerns concerning school girls and teachers
were also raised and addressed in block level forums; Block level initiatives to ensure retention
and regular attendance of girls ; Community mobilization initiatives involving community,
PRIs, teachers, parents etc. for spot enrolment of girls in blocks with highest gender gaps in
literacy; Up-gradation of KGBVs to higher classes on demand for girls’ education by schools’
own initiatives in some states; Provision of special quota and incentives for CWSN children as
well as higher scholarships for enrolled children.
Click Here Link For GK Daily Online Test -300👇
7. Suggestion and Recommendations
Some of suggestions arrived at on basis of our findings, analysis and discussions with
stakeholders may be perused at under:
o Scope for separate and independent management for KGBV at the national level
may be explored to look into the implementation and monitoring of the scheme as
variations have been reported in implementation in or within the states resulting in
deviations from the scheme objectives.
o Strict adherence to guidelines for identification of Out of School and Dropout Girls
for Enrolment in KGBVs must be ensured.
o Reducing dropouts/out of schools and better educational outcomes in light of
several policy interventions such as MDM, SSA etc. may dilute the current
objectives of KGBVs in the distant future. Many states claimed that there is no
OOSC or DOS in their states. So, there is need to rethink the long term objectives of
KGBVs.
o Considering the demand for higher classes in KGBVs from different quarters, there
is a need to extend classes up to class X and XII in KGBVs in a phased manner.
Further it can be thought of linking with other programmes for secondary education
like RMSA.
o It may be desirable to keep a track on the future progression of girls passing out
from the KGBVs to ensure that they continue the education and do not fall prey to
social ills like child labour, early marriage, dowry deaths etc.
o Provisions for meeting the requirements of CWSN may be made as this facility is
not available uniformly across the KGBVs.
o Fortifying safety and security aspects like provision of boundary walls, security
personnel etc. are required in KGBVs.
Evaluation Study on Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas(KGBVs)
o Making computers available to all schools and emphasis on intensive training and
exposure to the students which has got practical utility in their career and incomes
must be given focus.
o Better maintenance and repair of infrastructure facilities in hostels is mandated as
this emerges as a necessary condition for retention of students and success of
KGBVs.
o Appointment of permanent teachers with training exposure and better salary to
focus on teaching-learning activities in the KGBVs is suggested.
o A provision for Bridge Course to fill the gap of dropout students enrolling in upper
primary classes should be formulated. For this separate curriculum, provision for
teachers’ training and required funds should be considered at the national level in
consultation with all the stakeholders.
o The criteria for opening the KGBVs in a particular area should be linked with the
number of OOSC and DOS in that area for which a baseline survey may be done to
find out the requirement for opening KGBV in a block instead of solely relying on
EBB criteria.
o Timely revision of norms for recurring expenditure should be done.
o Adequate medical facilities and regular health check-ups for KGBV students are a
necessity for girls studying in these residential schools.
No comments:
Post a Comment