Secondary education in Odisha: A study of performance of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

Secondary education is one of the most important indicators of development. In addition to direct contribution to development, it generates numerous externalities such as poverty alleviation, increased life expectancy, reduced inequalities, improved healthcare quality, technological advancement, democratic citizenship, social cohesion, and so on. For a long time, quantitative expansion of secondary education has been the primary concern ofpolicymakers. To cater to this problem, the government of India has taken various measures, one such being Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). In light of the above facts, the present study attempts to analyse the performance of Secondary Education in the state of Odisha from two dimensions: (a) educational progress in terms of enrolment ratio, drop-out rate, gender parity index, transition rate, and retention rate, etc.; (b) financial patterns of secondary education with a special focus on the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan during the study period, by means of tables, ratios, and percentages. The present study is based on secondary data taken from different sources. The study reveals that the goal of universalisation of secondary education in Odisha, an educationally and economically backward state in India, seems to be elusive in the near future. Neither the financing pattern of education per se nor secondary education in particular, is conducive to achieving the goal of universal secondary education. On the developmental aspects, although the scheme has enhanced access to secondary education, but is characterised by social inequities. Further, the study identifies a number of issues in the financial performance of the scheme which include the gap between the approved and the actual amount released from the central government to state government, underutilisation of resources, and violating the fund sharing ratios. Both the physical and financial achievements in secondary education in Odisha seriously raise concerns about the effectiveness of this programme. The study emphasized from policy options that to have inclusive and quality secondary education, it is crucial that government must target proper allocation and utilisation of funds, keeping in view the state specific targets.