THE IMPACT OF RAJEEV VIDYA MISSION WITH REFERENCE TO UNIVERSALIZATION OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Universal Elementary Education or education for all means providing all access, universal enrollment, universal retention, equity and universal achievement of children. Universal access indicates the availability of educational facility within a walking distance of 1 km at the primary stage and 3 at the upper primary stage. Universal participation of children means total enrollment and functional attendance and retention till the end of the course, Universal achievement of expected level of learning by all most all children. Universalization of elementary education involves three stages: Universalization of provision, Universalization of enrollment and Universalization of retention. To facilitate for these stages, education is made a fundamental right through the 93rd constitutional amendment. However, this aim was severely hampered by several problems of social and political nature since the achievement of independence. So, the initial target span of 10 years has continuously been revised and at present the target year is 2010 and the ambitious project undertaken is “Sarva Siksha Abhiyan”.