DECENTRALIZATION IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN INDIA

Abstract

One of the most important strategies in the management of education, particularly elementary education has been mobilizing the community and its resources. More than anything else, today there is global consensus that for improving the system of education involvement of community is a prerequisite. The 73rd and 74th amendments to the constitution provided for decentralization and facilitated the transfer of power and participation of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). However, it was not until 2002 that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan assigned paramount importance for  proper mobilization of community resources and the creation of an effective system of participative and decentralized decision-making. This has been taken further by the Right to Education Act 2009. It is undeniable that a sustainable system of education can only be evolved through local participation. This paper traces the history of community participation in elementary education in India, focusing on major schemes and their key provisions

Keywords: Decentralisation, community participation, SSA, RTE, SMC.