Child Education in West Bengal

Child Education is one of important program in west Bengal  Education System,This has been accepted as a National goal and the need for provision of elementary education has been accepted as a crucial input to nation building. In order to achieve the target 2500 new primary schools were sanctioned by the School Education Department during three years prior to 1999-2000 which are in the process of being set up and likely to be completed shortly. The national programme of Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) is being launched in the State from the current year of 2002-2003 in all the Districts including the DPEP Districts and Kolkata. District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) is being implemented in 10 Districts of the State and it will continue in these Districts within the overall framework of SSA. Sarba Siksha Abhiyan will provide a wide convergent framework for implementation of Elementary Education schemes, encouraging all investments in the elementary education sector from the State and Central plans which will be reflected as a part of the SSA framework and will merge into SSA programme. SSA will also provide additional resources for strengthening vital areas to achieve UEE. State Government will have to provide 25% of the total outlay for SSA during the 10^th Plan. Total provision may go up to Rs 2000 crores during the Plan period.

District Primary Education Program (DPEP)DPEP is a centrally sponsored, externally funded programme aiming at universalisation of primary education through universal access, enrolment and retention with a substantial improvement in the existing level of quality of education. In West Bengal, it is running in 10 Districts viz. Bankura, Birbhum, Coochbehar, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, Jalpaiguri, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda and Purulia. The share of State fund for the programme is 15% of the total expenditure. The ceiling of project cost per District is Rs 40 crores over a 7- year project period. The criteria for selection of the Districts have been low female literacy rate and the success of the Total Literacy Campaign (TLC). DPEP is implemented in the State through a registered society.

The four basic objectives of DPEP include
1.        Providing access to primary education (Class I to IV) to all children of 5 to 9 years age group through formal or non- formal/innovative systems.
2.        Enrolling all children in the formal or non-formal/innovative systems.
3.        Retain all children in school and provide necessary support for completing primary education within 4 years time.
4.        Ensuring substantive improvement in existing level of quality of education.

Integrated Education For Disabled Children:
School Education Department is implementing the Govt. of India Scheme of Integrated Education for Disabled Children (IEDC) under the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. This programme is sponsored by the Govt. of India through different types of assistance, for promotion of education amongst the disabled children in the Primary and Upper Primary stage. Integrated Schools for the disabled children have been identified in each District for the purpose of implementation of the Scheme. For integrated education of Disabled Children we have till now covered 350 schools in 15 Districts and remaining 3 Districts are going to be covered soon.
The SCERT, West Bengal has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting training programme of teachers and Heads of the selected schools in respect of this scheme. WBDPEP has also taken various steps, like construction resource rooms, removal of architectural barriers and preparation/purchase of instructional materials for implementing the scheme of Integrated Education for the Disabled (IED).
The Government of India provides 100% financial support for the scheme.

Programmes for minoritiesIt is also a Government of India sponsored scheme for the intensive development of the educationally backward minorities in the minority dominated blocks by providing building support as well as environmental development for education in the areas. The Government of India provides 100% financial support for the scheme.
Shishu Siksha Karmashuchi
In order to cover the children outside the ambit of primary education and/or drop-outs from formal primary schools, a community initiated and community managed programme titled the "Shishu Siksha Karmashuchi" was set afoot by the government. This programme is solely demand driven and community ownership oriented. It also provides some employment opportunity to local women in the form of Sahayikas of the Shishu Shiksha Kendras.

List of Primary Schools in West Bengal