With more than two crore children in the age group of 6-14 enrolled in schools, it became imperative to strengthen the primary education infrastructure across the state, Bhushan said.

He said that the SAA succeeded in Bihar due to a number of innovative measures undertaken by the BEPC to make primary education student friendly.

Under the scheme, 15,000 new school buildings were constructed and 1,20,451 additional class rooms were added to schools till March, 2009, the sources said.

He said that schemes such as 'Bal Sansad' (child

parliament), Meena Manch (girls club) Hunar (vocational training for muslim girls), Uthan kendra, Talimi Markaz, Martial arts for girls, English is fun and computer-aided learning were launched.

The 'Bal Sansad' or child parliament is a unique feature of the scheme under which parliament members motivate other children in their neighbourhoods to join the schools, Bushan said.

Similarly, at Uthan kendras out-of-school mahadalit children were given bridge courses to enable them to enter formal primary schools at class five level.

The Talimi Markaz was launched for Muslim students at 224 centres and Hunar is aimed at imparting vocational training to Muslim girls.

Over 13,768 minority girls are benefiting through vocational skill development training in 298 centres across the state in jute production, bakery and confectionary, certificate course in health of rural women, early childhood care and techonology, cutting, tailoring and dress making and beauty culture.

Bhushan said the state had fixed 2010 as the deadline for providing quality primary education to all children in the age group of 6-14.