New Delhi: Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and NITI Aayog are jointly working on a School Education Quality Index (SEQI) with the goal of institutionalizing a focus on improving education outcomes at the State and UT level. The details of the index are still under preparation. The data for the index will be uploaded by States and UTs.

To monitor the Quality Index Ind roll-out and to support the States and UTs, a Project Management Unit (PMU) will be set-up at the National level. This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Mr Upendra Kushwaha today (05 December 2016) in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.

The minister said that there is a need to give priority to the expansion and growth of education system in the Country. Central Government through SSA and RMSA provides assistance to States and UTs for growth and expansion of education system.

Since the inception of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in 2001 till 30.6.2016, 3.59 lakh new elementary schools have been opened, construction of 2.90 lakh school buildings and 17.48 lakh additional classrooms have been completed and 9.61 lakh school toilets constructed, and 15.74 lakh teachers have been recruited. Further, since the inception of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) in 2009, 12,394 new secondary schools have been approved and funds have been provided for strengthening of 37,382 existing secondary schools. Under RMSA, 120284 teachers including Head Masters are approved till date.