Presentation on the field observations given by the Monitoring Institutions By Shri K.Girija Shankar Senior Consultan

1. Annexure – XI Presentation on the field observations given by the Monitoring Institutions By Shri K.Girija Shankar Senior Consultant (Monitoring) SSA TSG, EDCIL,New Delhi

2. Independent Field Monitoring through Social Science Institutions SSA Framework envisages independent monitoring apart from programme systems of monitoring. Objective for engaging MI’s: To assess the progress of implementation of approved plans at District and State level. To sample check progress in achievement of some key outcome indicators. To verify process and procedures undertaken for implementation of SSA.

3. Utilization of MI feedback Nationally • MIs participated in the Regional Review meetings of SSA and shared their field observations on the implementation of SSA. • Representatives of MIs have participated in the Appraisal AWP&B 2008-09. • Key observation of MI reports were shared during PAB and factored into PAB decisions on AWP&B’s of States/UTs. • MIs participate in the Joint Review Mission (JRM). • MI reports in public domain on website & widely shared. States/UTs • MI reports are acted upon. • States further engaged for MI’s for research, capacity building & more district reviews.

4. 41 Universities/Social Science Research Institutes monitor SSA field activities. Central Universities : 7 State Universities : 16 Autonomous Government Institutions : 2 ICSSR institutions: 10 Management Institutions :2 Private Institutions : 1 Others (NGOs) : 3 2005-06 engaged on revised TOR’s with clarity on scope of work, 17 clear items to be monitored.

5. Key items to be monitored Opening of Schools Civil Works Textbooks School Grants Teachers and Teachers Training Teacher Learning Material (TLM) grants EGS & AIE/NRBC/RBC Children with Special Needs (CWSN) Functioning of the VEC Staffing at State and district level DISE Research and Evaluation NPEGEL KGBV Additional items during the school visit Any other issues relevant to SSA implementation Mid day meal scheme (MDM)

6. Progress of Monitoring Institutions (MI) reports for 2 years (2006-07 & 2007-08 • Available number of Reports : 155 • Districts covered : 563

7. Revised TOR (2006-2008) Scope of work: SSA, MDM, KGBV and NPEGEL. Scale of work: 5% of the elementary schools/ EGS/ AIE centers. At least 1% of the schools should be visited within 1 month of the start of the academic year. All allotted districts to be visited in 2 years. Time frame: 2 years i.e. 2006-07 and 2007-08. Reporting every six months for 25 % of Districts allotted to them. Process: SPO & DPO must share latest physical , financial progress reports with MI as per TOR. MI would submit their reports to SPO at the draft level and after discussion, finalize their reports. SPO on receipt of the draft report would give their comments immediately. If the MI receives no comments within a month, the MI can finalize the report.

8. MOU’s • 35 M.I’s signed MOU for undertaking monitoring activities for period of two years 2008-2010 as per the revised TOR 2008-2010. • 6 MOU’s are yet to be received from 6 MI’s • The Revised TOR 2008-2010 starts with effect from 1st August, 2008. • After GOI evaluation of MI performance 2 dropped & being replaced for the states of Jharkhand and Tamilnadu.

9. Key Observations of MIs reports (period 1-10-2007 to 31-3-2008) • Textbooks • Text books distribution clearly confirms that it remained good. The book distribution remained timely to the sampled schools of the districts. (M. S. University covering Gujarat-Vadodara District) • Distribution of free textbooks to all SC/ST and Girl students is found to be satisfactory .Delay in distribution was noticed. (NIRD, Hyd. – covering Andhra Pradesh- Hyderabad District). • Free Text books were not received within one month of the opening of the schools –( A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Sciences- covering Bihar- Patna District

10. Textbooks • The distribution of books to the eligible students of upper primary schools out of SSA funds always get delayed, due to non availability of funds for the in time. (Visva – Bharati University – covering West Bengal) • Textbooks were distributed in time –Punjab University, chandigarh—covering for Punjab state- Amritsar District • State has adopted the strategy of retaining old books in good condition from the old students and redistributes it to the new ones. 50 percent of the remaining books are supplied by the State project Office.-NIAR,Mussorie for Rajasthan State-Jaipur District

11. Teaching Learning Material Teachers were trained on TLM preparation and this training was given at the teacher training centers. (M S University, Baroda - covering Gujarat-Vadodara District). • Most of the teachers used their TLM in preparing teaching aids during their training programme-Punjab University, chandigarh—covering for Punjab state- Amritsar District Children use TLM displayed in the classrooms. Displayed material was relevant and adequate. (Kurshetra University, Kur. – covering Haryana) • Children are using TLM. (IIE, Pune – covering Maharashtra).

12. Civil works • Quality of construction of civil work especially the new building and ACR are found to be good. (Visva – Bharati University, - covering West Bengal) • Quality of constructions of toilets, drinking water facilities, kitchen sheds , is by and large good in 80% to 90% of the schools. (Kurukshetra University, Kur. - covering Haryana) • Quality of bricks and grit for RCC work was find satisfactory at visited construction sites. (Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi - covering Bihar).

13. Civil works • Progress in civil works is reasonably satisfactory in all the sampled districts (Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Chennai).(IIM, Bangalore - covering Tamil Nadu). • Class room boards in almost all the sample districts were found to be neglected item. It is observed by the MI that it was totally neglected and quality was not maintained as a result teachers are unable to utilize the class room boards. NIRD, Hyd. – covering Andhra Pradesh- Hyderabad District).

14. VEC • VECs has more than 9 members with adequate women representatives. (Visva – Bharati University, West Bengal). • The VECs/ SMCs are actively involved in the process of monitoring. (SNDT, Pune – covering Maharashtra). • All SDMCs are maintaining proper records of the funds received. (ISEC, Bangalore – covering Karnataka). • In 60% of the selected schools not even a single meeting of the members of VEC was held in year (M S University, Baroda - covering Gujarat-Vadodara District).

15. Attendance of teachers • All the teachers are in position in all the sample districts (Dindori, Sidhi, Bhind, Seoni, Panna, Chhatarpur). (MPISSR, Ujjain – covering Madhya Pradesh). • 100% attendances of teachers was seen at 27 schools out of 49 sampled schools. (M.S. University, Baroda – covering Gujarat) • On the validation day, over 75% of the Head masters in primary and 68% in upper primary were found to be present. Over 87% of the Siksha Mitras were found to be present on the evaluation day. (G.B. Pant Institute, Allahabad – covering Uttar Pradesh). • The teacher absenteeism noted due to visit to head quarters or banks etc. (Kurukshetra University, Kur. – covering Haryana) • Habitual absentee teachers were noticed by the MI. (TISS, Mumbai – covering Madhya Pradesh).

16. Students’ Attendance • Maximum discrepancy in the recorded attendance and the Head count (M S University, Baroda - covering Gujarat-Vadodara corporation Vadodara District). • Attendance of students from all the categories is generally 80 to 90%. (SNDT, Pune – covering Maharashtra). • Student attendance rate in the sampled school in south west, west and North West district was quite good. (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi – covering Delhi) • Students attendance in all the sample districts (Gurgaon, Kaithal, Mahindergarh, Panipat, Sonipat) was nearly 85 to 96 percent (Kurushetra University, Kur. covering Haryana)

17. Students’ Attendance • 68.46% of the enrolled students were present on the day of the visit. (Giri Institute, of Development Studies, Lucknow - covering Uttar Pradesh) • 75.56% children present in the class rooms with respect to the enrolment strength (M.S. University, Baroda – covering Gujarat)

18. Learning Achievement • Average achievement level of students is fair. There is a scope for enhancing quality. (SNDT, Pune – covering Maharashtra). • Pass percentage in examination was 91.71% (Std. 1st to 4th). (IIE, Pune – covering Maharashtra). • The attendance, retention and achievement rates in the sample schools are impressive. Grading system is not followed by any of the six districts (Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Chennai). (IIM, Bangalore - covering Tamil Nadu).

19. MI feedback1.Free Textbooks Distribution

20. 2. Teaching Learning Material Using TLM

21. 3. Training on TLM Development

22. 4. School Grants Received School Grants in time

23. 5. Utilization of School Grants

24. 6. Teacher’s Training 6(a) Teacher’s Training conducted in 20 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal) and 1UT(Delhi)

25. 7. Calendar for Training

26. 8. BRC/CRCs providing academic support

27. 9. Quality of Civil Works N. I.

28. 10. VEC/SMCs constituted 10. VEC/SMCs constituted in 20 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal) and 1 UT (Delhi)

29. 11. VEC/SMCs contribution

30. 12. Educational Volunteer’s Training (EGS/AIE)

31. 13. Educational Volunteer’s attendance N. I.

32. 14. CWSN Children provided with aids and appliances

33. 15. Counseling to parents of CWSN children

34. 16. Research Studies Conducted

35. 17. DISE 17. Training has been imparted to the teachers for filling of data in the Data Capture format in 20 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu ,Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal) and 1 UT (Delhi) 100% Trained in DISE

36. 18. Staffing

37. 19. NPEGEL Gender Sensitization Material available N. I.

38. 20. KGBV N. I.

39. Thanks List of 41 MIs and Monitoring reports are available at www.ssa.nic.in K.Girija shankar 09810956826/23379191-132 monitoring.tsg@gmail.com