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India: Education

Volume 480: debated on Wednesday 8 October 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008, Official Report, column 1040W, on India: overseas aid, what targets have been set for the universal elementary education programme in India. (223857)

The Indian Government's flagship Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme, described in the answer of 18 June 2008, sets a number of targets for universal elementary education. These targets, for achievement by 2009-10, include reducing the number of out of school children aged six to 14 years from 13.4 million (2005-06) to 4.9 million; ensuring that girls’ share of enrolments and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe shares of enrolments are maintained or increased relative to their share in the population as a whole; increasing student attendance rates at the primary and upper primary levels from 70 per cent. and 75 per cent. respectively to 85 per cent. and 90 per cent.; increasing the retention rate at the primary level from 71 per cent. to 75 per cent.; increasing the transition rate from primary to upper primary levels from 83 per cent. to 89 per cent.; adequately and regularly monitoring learning levels of elementary education students; and improving learning levels of students in grade 3 in particular.