EXTERNAL FUNDING FOR EDUCATION FOR ALL
1. "The World Conference on Education for All" (WCEFA) held in Jomtien, Thailand in March 1990 had adopted a landmark Declaration on Meeting Basic Learning Needs. The meeting was attended by the member countries of UN and all the important donor agencies. The participants agreed that the international community, including intergovernmental agencies and institutions would work with the national governments to achieve the goal of education for all by the year 2000. The Conference brought about a qualitative change in the perceptions of basic education among the participants and a holistic view of basic education was accepted including all the components mentioned in the previous para.
2. Over the last few years there has been a qualitative change in the perceptions on primary education and adult education. A holistic view of basic education has replaced sectoral and narrow view of primary education, non-formal education and adult education. In this context Basic Education comprises:-
a) Universalisation of Primary Education, viewed as a composite programme of (i) access to primary education for all children upto 14 years of age; (ii) universal participation till they complete the primary stage through formal or non formal education programme; and (iii) universal achievement at least of minimum levels of learning.
b) Functional literacy, in which self reliant skills in 3 Rs is emphasised, alongside relevant education relating to the needs of the individual, the family and the community.
c) A special emphasis on women's education and development in order that they move towards equality in education and become the instruments and beneficiaries of the development process; and
d) Post-literacy, continuing education and inculcation of basic skills for survival and general well-being.
3. It has been estimated that if the goal of Education For All by 2000 AD is to be achieved, elementary education alone requires about Rs.80,000 Crores during the next 10 years. In this context it may be mentioned that the total budget provision for education by States and Centre together in the year 1989-90 was about Rs.13,619 crores. Therefore a major impediment to the attainment of
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goal of Education For All by 2000 AD would be the resource crunch. Taking advantage of the increased do not interest following Jomtien Conference It is proposed to selectively tap funds for basic education.
4. The following Projects with funding by external resources in the area of basic education are in various stages of formulation and implementation.
Under implementation
- Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Project with Overseas Development Administration (UK) assistance.
- Rajasthan Project (Shiksha Karmi) with Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) assistance.
- Mahila Samakhya (Education for Women's Equality Programme) with Dutch assistance.
- Bihar Education Project with UNICEF assistance.Under formulation
Uder formulation
- U.P. Basic Education Project with World Bank assistance.
- Rajasthan Lok Jumbish Project with Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) assistance.
Under conceptualisation
- South Orissa Project
- M.P. Basic Education Project.
5. The basic education projects which are being formulated after the Jomtien Declaration would have the following common features:-
a) They would cover all components of basic education as spelt out in Para 2 above.
b) They would emphasize participatory planning and implementation.
c) The project management would be in the Mission mode which would lead to cost effectiveness in terms of programme outcomes and outputs.
d) The projects would be "evolving projects"
e) The projects would strive for continuous innovation as well as assimilation and adoption of experience gained.
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CABE RECOMMENDATIONS 6. The modalities for raising external resources for basic education were discussed in the Working Group on Policy and Planning of CABE at its 46th meeting on 8-9 Match, 1991. The following parameters for external funding approved by the CABE are being followed in negotiations with donor agencies and within the Government:-
i) the external funding should be an additionality to the resources for education
ii) The project must be in total conformity with the national policies, strategies and programmes.
iii) The project formulation should be the responsibility of the Centre/State Governments/other national agencies and that project formulation should be a process of capacity building.
iv) The project must be drawn up on innovative lines emphasising people's participation, improvement of quality and equality of education and a substantial upgradation of facilities.
7. The CABE Working Group on Policy and Planning had noted that in the implementation of the externally aided projects, the State Governments were handicapped by the stipulation requiring the States to first incur expenditure from their own resources and claim reimbursement subsequently. The Group, therefore, recommended a specially earmarked ways and means advance to the States for the implementation of the externally aided projects including the World Bank assisted Technician Education Programme. The Group further recommended that the outlay on externally aided projects should be an additionality to the State Plan in the Education Sector.
PROJECT WISE DETAILS - ON GOING PROJECTS 8. ODA assisted Andhra Pradesh Project
Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Project (APPED) is being implemented in A.P. since April, 1983 with assistance of Overseas Development Administration (ODA) of U.K. The objective of the project is to improve the quality of Primary Education in the project area by (a) providing Primary School Buildings and Class
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Rooms of improved quality; and (b) enhancing the professional competence of teachers and supervisors of Primary schools through HRD programme.
9. Phase-I of the project covering 330 schools spread across 11 districts in A.P. came to an end in 1987. Phase-II of the Project spans the period 1989-90 to 1995-1996 and would cover all the primary schools in A.P. ODA is meeting the full cost of the Project. The outlay for the period 1989-94 is of the order of 31.1 million (pound). This is a state sector project.
10. The Shiksha Karmi Project was started in 1987.The Project seeks to tackle the problem of teacher absenteeism. The crucial innovation is a substitution of the primary school teacher by a team of two voluntary educational workers-Shiksha Karmis who would be selected by the local community and imparted intensive training. The Project has a Strong component of training inputs. The project aims to cover in a phased manner about 2000 remote villages in 140 blocks of Rajasthan. The total outlay on the project for the period June, 1991 to June, 1996 is Rs.41.19 crores. 90% of the outlay is being -reimbursed by SIDA. The state Govt. of Rajasthan is meeting the remaining 10% of the expenditure.A provision of Rs.25 crores is being made for this Project in the VIII Plan.
11. Mahila Samakhya Programme (Education for Women's Equality) was launched with 100% Dutch assistance in ten districts of Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh in April, 1989 to bring about basic change in the status of women. MS is designed with the overall aim of integrating women's education with their empowerment particularly in the rural areas and it addresses itself to the poorest women. MS works for a meaningful partnership between women and educators by establishing a Mahila Sangha in each of the villages to be covered. Mahila Sangha would provide the space where women can meet and begin the process of reflecting, analysing and above all feeling confident to articulate their needs. Educational inputs would be introduced in a phased manner responding to the needs of the group. It is proposed to cover 10 additional districts in the existing
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three States, namely, Karnataka, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and also to extend the project to two additional States viz. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar in a phased manner. MS is a Central Government Project and a provision of Rs.51-37 crores is being made in the VIII Plan for this Project.
12. The Bihar Education Project covers- all aspects of Basic Education, Primary Schooling, Women's Development, Non-Formal Education Adult Education and Continuing Education. The innovative elements in BEP include relating education to working and living conditions of the people, improving thereby their ability to cope with the problems of livelihood, environment and mother-child survival. Education has been viewed as an instrument of social change for forging of alliances with people who can make BEP successful. Specially selected agencies - governmental, semi-governmental and non- governmental agencies would be enabled to take up for implementation specific components of BEP. The Project would be implemented through a State level autonomous body, Bihar Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad, which has been constituted and registered.
13. While BEP would eventually extend to the entire State of Bihar, a beginning would be made in a few blocks in 3 districts of Ranchi, Rohtas and West Champaran. The Programme would be gradually extended to cover 150 blocks in 20 districts. Pre-project activities have begun in the financial year 1990-91 in the three selected districts.
14. An outlay of Rs.3600 million is envisaged for BEP during 1992-97. The contribution of UNICEF, Government of India and Government of Bihar would be in the ratio of 3:2:1.A provision of Rs.120 crores is being made to meet the Central share in the VIII Plan period.
UNDER FORMULATION 15. Following the reassuring role played by the World Bank a WCEFA at Jomtien it is proposed to formulate a test case Project with an outlay of about Rs.125 crores covering ten districts of U.P with 10 Piggy Back districts to be treated as reserve for speedy utilization of funds. The U.P Basic Education.
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Project would be a State sector Project. The Project envisages setting up of a Central Monitoring Unit. A provision of Rs.1 crore is being made in the VIII Plan to meet the expenditure on CMU and other expenditure on this Project.
LOK JUMBISH 16. The project "Lok Jumbish": People's Movement for Basic Education for All Rajasthan is proposed to be taken up with SIDA's assistance in Rajasthan.The project relies heavily on people's mobilization and seeks to bring about maximum possible decentralization of management, accountability and relevance to the educational system. The overall goal of the project is to achieve education for all in Rajasthan by the year 2000. The expenditure is proposed to be shared among SIDA, Govt. of India and Govt. of Rajasthan in the ratio 3:2:1. It is estimated that the total project outlay over a 10 year period would be approx. Rs.500-600 crores. Although final decisions are yet to be taken but it is expected that the Central Government share during the 8th Plan period would be approx. Rs.75 crores.
17. OTHER PROJECTS
Posibility is being explored to monilize external resourse for an education for all type project in Madhya Pradesh and for a project in the four most backward trible districts of South Orissa. The South Oriss Project outline seeks to impart education oriented to the problems of the local envirment and combines education with skill and enterprise development.
18. MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Each externally assisted project has a strong component of monitoring and review. Both internal and external evaluation would be undertaken and mid-course corrections would be carried out after periodic reviews.