18% hike in budgetary allocation for education sector

The education sector today got a hike of about 18% in the budgetary allocation for the next fiscal with a plan outlay of 61,427 crore in which 22% increase has been announced for the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan.

Rs 15,458 crore has been earmarked for higher education while school education has received Rs 45,969 crore.

Hailing the Budget as a "road to empowerment", HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said "in a difficult year like this, it is commendable that the Finance Minister has continued to invest in education".

The Finance Minister also announced a 29% increase for the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

Both the RMSA and SSA programmes are aimed at increasing enrolment levels in schools.

The budget for Department of school education and literacy has seen a hike of nearly 18% to Rs 45,969 crore from Rs 38,957 crore.

The Finance Minister also announced Rs 11,937 crore for the flagship mid day meal programme in schools, a rise of about 11% from last year’s outlay of Rs 10,380 crore.

In an indication of the government's enhanced focus for the education sector for the 12th Plan Period, the Finance Minister also announced 6,000 model schools which would be set up at the block level to benchmark excellence. Of these, 2,500 will be set up under PPP mode.