Features of India's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

1.0 BASIC FEATURES OF SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is an effort to universalise elementary education by community-ownership of the school system. It is a response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country. The SSA programme is also an attempt to provide an opportunity for improving human capabilities to all children, through provision of community-owned quality education in a mission mode.
1.1 WHAT IS SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN
 A programme with a clear time frame for universal elementary education.
 A response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country.
 An opportunity for promoting social justice through basic education.
 An effort at effectively involving the Panchayati Raj Institutions, School Management Committees, Village and Urban Slum level Education Committees, Parents' Teachers' Associations, Mother Teacher Associations, Tribal Autonomous Councils and other grass root level structures in the management of elementary schools.
 An expression of political will for universal elementary education across the country.
 A partnership between the Central, State and the local government.
 An opportunity for States to develop their own vision of elementary education
1.2 AIMS OF SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is to provide useful and relevant elementary education for all children in the 6 to 14 age group by 2010. There is also another goal to bridge social, regional and gender gaps, with the active participation of the community in the management of schools.
Useful and relevant education signifies a quest for an education system that is not alienating and that draws on community solidarity. Its aim is to allow children to learn about and master their natural environment in a manner that allows the fullest harnessing of their human potential both spiritually and materially. This quest must also be a process of value based learning that allows children an opportunity to work for... [continues]