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Description The project addressed the problem of ineffective or non-existent governance of secondary schools and the lack of adequate community involvement in secondary education. The project aimed to improve the quality of secondary education by forming and strengthening SMDCs, SMDC members received training to improve the overall performance of students in 25 secondary schools and address the absence of proper infrastructure in these schools. Changes in enrolment, retention, infrastructure, Parent-Teacher Association meetings, students’ academic performance and the implementation of school development plans were all implemented and tracked by the SMDC. 150 school Cabinet members would receive counseling and training support and 25 secondary schools would have the necessary infrastructure through lobbying and advocacy of block level networks with the District Administration.

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Achievements Developed the Training Manual and relevant training materials for SMDCs with the active involvement of the School & Mass Education Department (SMED), Government of Odisha and RMSA officials from the State. Community Monitoring developed and implemented through a tool to track enrolment, retention, classroom practices, student performance and transition to Secondary Education and vocational courses. Trained and strengthenied SMDCs to establish a pool of 20 lead trainers for SMDCs. The lead trainers were identified with the coordination of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), SMED and the Govt. of Odisha. Senior State level experts who are recognised by SMED were involved in building the capacity of lead trainers. Establishing SMDCs through community mobilisation and awareness raising and training of SMDC members on their roles and responsibilities. School Cabinets created to mobilise parents to send children regularly to school and support other students through peer counseling. Lobbied and networked with government through block level networks to ensure that at least selected schools have infrastructure such as separate toilets for boys and girls, ample playgrounds, learning materials, science laboratories and libraries. All 25 SMDC plans were developed and submitted to the District Education Officer. A total of 134 SMDC members were trained on their roles and functions in June-July 2013. 311 SMDC members were trained on the roll-out of a community monitoring tool to track the progress of schools on enrolment, retention and transition in Classes 9-10 in 25 schools in Sambalpur. A total of 104 SMDC members, 1,457 students and 43 Gram Panchayat representatives participated in 13 rallies to encourage out-of-school children to enroll in school in April 2013. *Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan is India’s national strategy for improving the quality of secondary education

RMSA* ROLLOUT FOR QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

Partner: Centre for Youth and Social Development Location: Sambalpur, Odisha, India Target Group: School Management and Development Committee Members and Students Beneficiaries: 425 SMDC members, 150 student cabinet members, and 5,000 students Grant Period: 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2013