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The key issues relating to secondary education highlighted in the Tenth Plan are: greater focus on improving access; reducing disparities by emphasising the Common School System; renewal of curricula with emphasis on vocationalisation and employment-oriented courses; expansion and diversification of the Open Learning System; reorganization of teacher training and greater use of ICT. The Tenth Plan objectives for secondary education are in consonance with the broad parameters and strategy of the National Policy on Education (NPE)
of 1986 and the Programme of Action of 1992. These
include:
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Extending access in un-served areas and educationally backward areas with concentration of SC/ST population.
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A uniform educational structure of 10+2+3, with the first 10 years envisaged as a stage of general education with undifferentiated courses providing basic knowledge in languages, science (including social and natural science) and mathematics.
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The higher secondary stage to provide for diversified courses with emphasis on vocationalisation.
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Vocational
education is to become a distinct stream, intended to prepare
students for identified occupations spanning several areas of
activity, at the +2 stage.
The social, gender based and regional disparities need to be addressed. Educationally backward districts should receive greater support for school infrastructure. Besides providing new schools need-based up-gradation of upper primary schools will have to be given greater priority. The quality of education needs to be improved with investments in teacher education, training laboratories, libraries and encouraging parents to invest in their children’s education. The State Boards of Secondary Education needs to be strengthened.
The approved outlay for secondary education (including vocational education) in the Central Sector in the Tenth Plan is Rs.4,325.00 crore. The actual expenditure in 2003-04 was Rs.639.08 crore, which increased to Rs.653.60 crore in 2004-05. The approved outlay for 2005-06 & 2006-07 are Rs. 875.00 crore &. Rs. 1067.00 crore
respectively.
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