-IANS
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday announced a hike of over 21 per cent in the budget allocation for providing free and compulsory education to children below 14 years.
"I proposed an increase in allocation by 21.7 per cent for RTE ( Right to Education) -Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to Rs.25,555 crore," Mukherjee said in parliament.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is implemented in partnership with state governments and covers nearly 192 million children across the country. The programme aims at opening new schools in areas where none exist and strengthen infrastructure through additional classrooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance and school improvement grants.
The finance ministry also raised the allocation for the secondary education scheme Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.
"I propose an increase of 29 per cent for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan to Rs.3,124 crore," Mukherjee added.
Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which became operative with effect from April 2010, no student up to Class 8 can be held back or expelled till the completion of elementary education.