Centre mandates local committees to oversee and govern schools, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Education has mandated the formation of School Management Committees (SMCs) nationwide to decentralize school governance, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• These guidelines, launched by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, replace previous instructions under schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and the Right to Education Act.
• Every school, including secondary institutions up to Class 12, must establish an SMC within one month of the academic year's start.
• SMCs will consist of 75% parents/guardians (with 50% being women) and 25% local officials, teachers, alumni, and experts.
• SMCs can execute school civil works costing up to ₹30 lakh and participate in tendering for projects exceeding this amount.

Detailed Insights:

• The new framework emphasizes education as a shared responsibility, promoting grassroots involvement through SMCs.
• SMCs are authorized to review school budgets, prevent financial irregularities, and maintain accurate financial records.
• Proportional representation must be given to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups, including SC, ST, OBC, and Children with Special Needs.
• SMCs are responsible for bringing out-of-school children back into the mainstream and ensuring the distribution of uniforms, textbooks, and scholarships.
• The establishment of SMCs aims to create a unified and streamlined approach to school leadership, replacing the existing School Management Development Committees (SMDC).

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A comprehensive framework to transform the education system in India by 2040.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: An integrated scheme for school education extending from pre-school to senior secondary level.
• Right to Education Act: Legislation ensuring free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years in India.