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Development of Education System

Notes 16.6.3 Shiksha Karmi Project (SKP)
Shiksha Karmi Project started in Rajasthan in 1987 remained in operation up to June 1998. It was a
scheme jointly sponsored by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Government of
India and the State of Rajasthan.
Aims of the Project .
1. Universalisation of education.
2. Checking drop-out.
3. Qualitative improvement of primary education.
Target Area. Socio-economically backward villages in Rajasthan.
Target Group. Specially girls
Teachers: Replacement of regular teachers by local teachers who were less qualified but specially
trained. A ‘Shiksha Karmi’ (SK) was a local person with minimum educational qualifications of
class VIII for men and class V’ for women. To overcome the basic lack of qualification, special
training was given to these teachers.
Role of the Community: Active involvement of the Non-Government Organisations(NGOs) and
the Village Education Committees (VECs).
Prehar Pathshalas (PPs): (School of Convenient Timings) providing educational programmes for
out of school children who cannot attend regular day schools. About 22,000 girls who constituted
71% of learners in PPs have been benefited.
Coverage: About 2 lakh children (1.18 lakh boys and 0.82 lakh girls) in 32 districts, 146 blocks
attending 2,697 day schools and 4, 335 Prehar Pathshalas. Number of Shiksha Karmis: 6,285.
Evaluation: A unique successful experiment. Positive results with minimum costs.
16.6.4 Teacher Education Restructuring and Reorganisation
Objectives: As envisaged in the NPE and Programme of Action (POA), 1996, a Central Scheme of
Restructuring and Reorganisation of Teachers Education was taken up in 1987 for the following
purposes:
(i) Creating a viable institutional infrastructure of teacher education.
(ii) Building up an academic and technical base for orientation, training and continuous
upgrading of knowledge, competence and pedagogical skills of elementary school teachers
in the country.
16.6.5 Operation Blackboard (OBB)
Objective: The scheme of Operation Blackboard started in 1987, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
for bringing about improvement in primary education by providing additional facilities to the
schools already established.
Use of the Word ‘Operation’ indicates that there is an urgency in this programme. Its goals are
clear and well-defined and the government is determined to achieve these goals with the cooperation
of the people within a pre-determined time frame.
Components of the Scheme: There are three components of Operation Blackboard:
1. Provision of at least two reasonably large rooms that are usable in all weathers, with a
deep veranda along with separate toilet facilities for boys and girls.
2. Provision of at least two teachers, as far as possible, one of them a woman, in every primary
school.
3. Provision of essential teaching and learning materials.
Responsibility: For the operation of the Scheme, responsibility is shared by the Central Government,
State Government and the local community. Role of the community in OBB scheme is as under:

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