New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved revision of the existing norms of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme to conform with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act.

"The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Programme, a major flagship programme of the government of India to universalize elementary education in the country, will be the main vehicle for the implementation of the RTE Act," said an official press release on Thursday.

The revisions to the programme are -

1.) Revision of SSA norms, including provisions for teachers and classrooms, support for academic supervision, research, evaluation and monitoring, opening of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) to bring them in conformity with the provisions of the RTE Act and implement the combined RTE-SSA programme.

New norms under SSA for uniforms, transportation costs and residential schools to implement the combined RTE-SSA programme have also been included.

2.) Revision of the funding pattern for the combined RTE-SSA programme between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 65:35 for all States/ UTs; in the case of eight States of NER the existing sharing pattern of 90:10 would however be continue.