Jamshedpur: Regular monitoring of dropouts, teachers' training and remedial education - all this will now be covered under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a newly announced integrated scheme of the human resource development ministry.

The new scheme has been formed by merging three centrally sponsored programmes - Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Scheme of Restructuring and Reorganisation of Teacher Education (STE).

The three schemes, which have been in operation for the past 15 years for improving the quality of education and infrastructure in government schools at elementary (Classes I to VIII) and secondary (Classes IX and X) levels, will now be replaced by a new integrated programme for Classes I to XII.

A meeting in this regard was organised by the East Singhbhum district education department at Dhatkidih office on Tuesday.

East Singhbhum district education officer R.K.P. Singh along with district superintendent of education (DSE) Bankey Bihari Singh presided over the meeting during which several block resource persons, block education officers and members of inclusive education were also present.

"Under the new scheme, we have integrated pre-school to Class XII so that we can focus on the overall development of the children. Earlier elementary education (Classes I to VIII) was covered under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan while secondary education (Class IX to XII) fell under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. Also teachers' training was not part of the programme. Panchayat members will have to maintain a dropout register that will be monitor the number of dropouts on a daily basis.," said the DEO.

The Union human resource development ministry has given a May 10 deadline to the districts to prepare the budget at the district level.

Besides, skill training for students of Class IX to XII has been included under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan to help them get jobs after they pass out from schools.

Each district shall receive a fund of Rs 20 lakh for the teachers' training programme. As per the new directive, teachers' training will be organised at all the existing block resource centres for which each centre will receive a fund of Rs 10 lakh in a financial year.

"The idea of vocational training for high school students is to increase their chances of employability and help them earn a living after they pass out from school. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is a comprehensive approach to education that aims at bridging the gender and social gaps in elementary education and improve the quality of learning," said a senior official of the education department.

The district education office also plans to organise a teachers' training programme in summer holidays.