Bhubaneswar, May 3: The state government has submitted a proposal of Rs 1,304.92 crore to the Centre under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) for 2011-2012.

The RMSA scheme aims at universalisation of secondary education to help children complete 9th and 10th standard education as a continuation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

The objective of the scheme is to achieve a general enrolment ratio of 75 per cent for classes IX and X by the year 2017 by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of every habitation. According to the proposal, a secondary school will be constructed within five-kilometre radius of every village or hamlet.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik submitted the proposal at the state secretariat following a review meeting of RMSA.

Funds allocated under the scheme will mostly be used in construction of new schools and renovation of old schools. The funds will also be utilised in providing infrastructure such as new classrooms with furniture, library, science laboratory, computer room and adequate toilet facilities.

The school and mass education department is already working on construction of 300 new schools and Rs 174.36 crore has already been spent on this, said an official in the department.

To solve the issue of vacancy of teachers, a proposal has already been made to appoint 1,432 new teachers by August. At present, there are 32,329 teachers as against the sanctioned strength of 37,306 teachers, the official added.

There has been an increase of 10.34 per cent in overall enrolment ratio of students in high school in 2010-11. While the number of girls has increased by 11.55 per cent, there has been an increase of 9.19 per cent in enrolment of boys. Retention rate in classes IX and X has increased to 79.03 per cent for girls to 74.49 per cent for boys.

As many as 3,500 school management and development committees have already been formed.

The school and mass education department plans to form at least 7,284 more school management and development committees by July 31, said the official. At present, there are about 7,800 high schools in the state.