There is a need to restructure Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) until a new law makes it redundant. It should be possible for SSA to move from the current norms-based funding, which is restrictive in many ways. Currently SSA funds states on an annual basis, which does not allow the states to create a long term plan. It may be good to provide 3 years of assured funds for a set of goals to achieve and to monitor half-yearly progress.

The academic support systems around the country are highly ineffective for a variety of reasons. They are too bureaucratic, ineffective, and have no sense of urgency, whether at the national level, or at the village cluster level. Restructuring these institutions and making them responsible for improvement in quality is a major challenge.

Governance under SSA is another matter that needs to be looked into. Right from the governing council chaired by the prime minister to the village education committee, most bodies are just show cases. The governing council met only once at the time of its inauguration in 2006 and never again. At the other end, there is enough evidence to show that most village education committee members do not know that such a body exists. Either we should make these bodies function as intended, or find other structures that will work.

The mid-day meal programme is said to impact enrollment, attendance, and retention in schools. There is no serious proof of such an impact. The outcome of mid-day meals should be the nutritional status of children, and not education.

... contd.