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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Dip in Samagra Shiksha Scheme fund earmarked for TN in 2025-26
CHENNAI: The fresh allocation of funds approved for Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme by the Ministry of Education's Project Approval Board (PAB) has dropped by Rs 1,416 crore (34%) from Rs 4,150 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 2,734 crore in 2025-26. Though the approved allocation last year was Rs 4,150 crore, the committed liability was reduced by the PAB to Rs 3,586 crore. The Rs 2,734 crore allocated for 2025-26 is nearly Rs 850 crore lower than that. It is, however, noteworthy that the budget proposed to the PAB by the Tamil Nadu government was also lower at Rs 3,104 crore for 2025-26 compared to Rs 4,579 crore proposed in 2024-25, although the state claimed that this was due to 'upper limits' imposed by the GoI. This allocation of Rs 2,734 crore is the lowest for Tamil Nadu in the last five years under the centrally-sponsored scheme in which the centre shares 60% of the annual expenditure while the state bears 40%. According to the data furnished by the Union Ministry of Education, while states such as Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and Punjab saw an increase in allocation for 2025-26, states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh saw a decline. TN spent Rs 980 crore as part of its SS share in '24-25 The reduction has come even as Tamil Nadu continues its fight for the release of the Union government's share of Samagra Shiksha (SS) funds for 2024–25, which have been fully withheld. As per the committed liability of Rs 3,586 crore, the Centre was to release Rs 2,152 crore as its 60% share. It is in pursuit of this Rs 2,152 crore that the state government has filed a suit in the Supreme Court against the Union government.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Infra gaps, unspent funds flagged in implementation of Centre's Samagra Shiksha Scheme at Delhi schools
Unspent funds, incomplete classroom and toilet projects, gender gap in enrolments, and large numbers of teacher vacancies —these were among the concerns raised during a recent meeting of the Project Approval Board (PAB) as it reviewed the Delhi's Annual Work Plan and Budget for the implementation of Centre's Samagra Shiksha Scheme at government and government-aided schools in the Capital. Delhi spent just 62.66% of the total funds available in the previous financial year, the Board noted. 'The UT (union territory) needs to ensure timely expenditure of available funds,' the PAB said, adding that this is essential for the release of further instalments. For the year 2025–26, the PAB has approved a total allocation of Rs 84,504 lakh, with Rs 47,042 lakh to be released as the Centre's share. Expressing alarm at the lack of progress on key infrastructure work, the Board noted that not a single unit from the additional classrooms (347), girls' toilets (47), or boys' toilets (40), which were approved between 2018–19 and 2023–24, had been built. The Delhi government has been urged to complete the pending works within this fiscal year. 'There is a pendency in infrastructure facilities since inception in the UT…UT was urged to come up with a concrete plan of action for completing the not-started works within the time frame or for surrendering the work that was not started,' it said. The Centre also asked Delhi to initiate social audits covering 60% of government schools in 2025–26. The PAB meeting on March 12 saw participation of officials from the Ministry of Education as well as the Delhi government. The minutes of the PAB meeting were made available on Wednesday. The PAB also flagged 36.44% vacancies in academic posts across Delhi's District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), responsible for teacher training. 'Considering the important role of these institutions in empowering teachers, the vacant positions of the DIET may be filled on priority to strengthen them…the release of funds under the DIETs of Excellence scheme will be contingent upon filling up of vacancies latest by June 30, 2025,' the Board warned. Meanwhile, only 3.93% of Delhi's Samagra Shiksha Budget is allocated to teacher education, it pointed out. The Board asked the government to 'focus more on secondary education and teacher training' for balanced distribution of resources. 'The UT needs to improve GER (gross enrollment ratio) and NER (net enrolment ratio), especially at the higher secondary level,' the Board underlined and noted that 57.06% of total students in the Capital are enrolled in government schools, which make up about 49% of all schools Referring to Delhi's Gender Parity Index (GPI) at 1.13 at the senior secondary level, showing significantly more girls than boys in school, the Board advised the government to study the 'mismatch and underlying causes.' Inclusive education for children with special needs (CWSN) also emerged as one of the concerns. Children with special needs make up just 1% of the student population, with numbers falling from Class 8 onward. Moreover, only 21% of teachers are trained in inclusive practices, and Delhi has just 29 special educators. The Board said the city must align with the guidelines set by the National Education Policy 2020 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016. On skill education, the PAB highlighted that just 32.56% of schools offer vocational training. Further, of 2,693 recognised schools in Delhi, only 1,197 have solar panels. The Board advised the city to speed up installations. The PAB for the Samagra Shiksha Scheme is responsible for reviewing, approving, and monitoring the annual work plans and budgets submitted by states and UTs to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Approval board flags vacancies in SCERT in Chandigarh
Various issues including vacancies in State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Chandigarh were flagged during the Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting held to consider the annual working budget for Samagra Shiksha for UT. This is an annual meeting held with officials of the UT education department with the central government regarding grants to be given to the city. The meeting was chaired by the secretary of the department of school education and literacy, Union ministry of education. While the meeting was held on March 17, the minutes were released on Wednesday. As per the report, there is a vacancy of academic positions as per state sanctioned post in the SCERT. 'Considering the important role of the institution in capacity building of teachers, the vacant positions of the SCERT need to be filled up on priority to strengthen it. The UT to share the details of the action taken with department of school education and literacy,' it was noted. Following a new provision by the ministry, the UT will have to do an internal analysis on the redistribution of budget allocation in line with National Education Policy (NEP) recommendations for elementary, secondary and teacher education while submitting AWP proposals under Samagra Shiksha. An ideal ratio of 65:25:10 will be targeted for budget allocation. Under PAB approvals for 2024-25, 100% pendency of infrastructure components such as ICT labs were approved but have not been constructed. The UT was advised to prioritise and expedite the execution of pending infrastructure works approved under earlier PABs. The UT has also been urged to accelerate the processes of screening, identification, assessment and certification of children with special needs (CWSN) in coordination with relevant line departments, and to ensure accurate categorisation and mapping of these children. 'Efforts must be made to ensure that every CWSN child is supported to complete secondary/vocational education, through targeted interventions based on individual learning levels and disability profiles. Additionally, the state must prioritise capacity building of general teachers in inclusive education-preferably through RCI-approved bridge courses to create a more supportive and inclusive classroom environment,' it was further observed.
New Paper
15-05-2025
- New Paper
2 taken to hospital after PMD-linked fire sets Toa Payoh HDB flat ablaze
Two people were taken to hospital on May 14 after a Toa Payoh flat caught fire, likely sparked by a personal mobility device (PMD) battery. Firefighters responded to the blaze at Block 226 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh at about 10.50pm, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post on May 15. When the firefighters arrived, the living room of the 10th-floor unit was on fire, and they had to force their way into the smoke-filled unit to put out the fire with a water jet. One person was found inside a bedroom and taken to the Singapore General Hospital after being assessed by a paramedic for smoke inhalation and burn injuries. The police and SCDF also evacuated about 30 people from neighbouring units, among them a person from a unit on the 14th floor who had to be taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital due to breathlessness. Early investigations indicated that the fire likely originated from a PMD battery in the charred living room, the SCDF said. It added: "To prevent such fires, SCDF would like to remind the public not to purchase or use non-original batteries for their active mobility devices, including PMDs and powered-assisted bicycles or PABs. "Also, do not charge PMD/PAB batteries for an extended period of time or overnight." Fires involving active mobility devices remain a growing concern, and have been on the rise for two years in a row, in 2023 and 2024. An SCDF annual report published in February said there were 67 fires involving active mobility devices in 2024, up 21.8 per cent from 55 fires in 2023. The bulk of these incidents occurred in homes, with 44 blazes in 2024. One key reason for the continued rise of fires linked to active mobility device is that many of these machines were modified, including the use of additional batteries not originally part of the device's original design, SCDF has said. In its May 15 Facebook post, SCDF also advised users to refrain from charging their active mobility devices near materials that burn easily or along an escape path.
The Star
15-05-2025
- The Star
Two taken to hospital after PMD-linked fire sets Toa Payoh HDB flat ablaze
One of those taken to the hospital was discovered inside a bedroom. - SCDF/FACEBOOK SINGAPORE: Two people were taken to hospital on Wednesday (May 14) after a Toa Payoh flat caught fire, likely sparked by a personal mobility device (PMD) battery. Firefighters responded to the blaze at Block 226 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh at about 10.50pm, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post on May 15. When the firefighters arrived, the living room of the 10th-floor unit was on fire, and they had to force their way into the smoke-filled unit to put out the fire with a water jet. One person was found inside a bedroom and taken to the Singapore General Hospital after being assessed by a paramedic for smoke inhalation and burn injuries. The police and SCDF also evacuated about 30 people from neighbouring units, among them a person from a unit on the 14th floor who had to be taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital due to breathlessness. Early investigations indicated that the fire likely originated from a PMD battery in the charred living room, the SCDF said. It added: 'To prevent such fires, SCDF would like to remind the public not to purchase or use non-original batteries for their active mobility devices, including PMDs and powered-assisted bicycles or PABs. 'Also, do not charge PMD/PAB batteries for an extended period of time or overnight.' Fires involving active mobility devices remain a growing concern, and have been on the rise for two years in a row, in 2023 and 2024. An SCDF annual report published in February said there were 67 fires involving active mobility devices in 2024, up 21.8 per cent from 55 fires in 2023. The bulk of these incidents occurred in homes, with 44 blazes in 2024. One key reason for the continued rise of fires linked to active mobility device is that many of these machines were modified, including the use of additional batteries not originally part of the device's original design, SCDF has said. In its May 15 Facebook post, SCDF also advised users to refrain from charging their active mobility devices near materials that burn easily or along an escape path. - The Straits Times/ANN
