Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA KEY DEVELOPMENTS SINCE LAST 19 TH CIVIL WORKS REVIEW

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA SSA and RTE SSA as main vehicle to implement RTE While SSA is a programme, RTE is a law and hence there to stay. Hence, whatever was done under SSA was in programme mode. Now, since RTE is a law, it is important to plan with long term perspective rather than short term goal. In light of this, SSA framework is being redrafted to address provisions of the RTE From RTE perspective, now education is child’s right. RTE is committed to ensuring all children, regardless of their social identity, physical challenges or health status can access education in safe, secure, and caring environment. Under RTE, preparation of School Development Plan is a must for each school to avail any grants from the government. Hence, schools have to focus on ‘how children learn’?

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Key recommendations of the 12th JRM for Civil Works Civil works needs to be looked at as an outcome of a larger strategy for quality improvement in Learning. Intensified efforts towards ensuring physical facilities, adequately equipped learning spaces and fully trained human resources are needed. It is important to think beyond ‘access’ and to the question of ‘access to what?’. In this context, the mission recommends that the approach of the whole school development plan be adapted by all States. In other words, SSA Engineers and designers need to study the real needs of school children for learning spaces and work out appropriate solutions with the community for implementation in both existing and proposed school buildings.”

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Key recommendations of the 12th JRM for Civil Works SSA to clearly advocate shift from a teacher-centred classroom to an active classroom that provides maximum opportunities for students to participate and learn through a constructivist approach. Activity Based Learning is seen as a step in this direction with 17 states adapting it at primary level and 5 states at upper primary level also. Focus on environment friendly solar passive designs and cost-effectiveness Renewed emphasis on BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) Assessment to be made of the infrastructure already in place and ways for using the existing infrastructure most efficiently as a child-friendly holistic space for development and learning.

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Key recommendations of the 12th JRM for Civil Works Ensuring community involvement in designing as well as monitoring. Environment Assessment to be an important tool and used in project management system Design a quality improvement plan for block (BRC)/ cluster (CRC) as per SSA goals Districts with ACR gap more than 3000 are special focus districts (38) nationally. States with districts that have Student classroom ratio above 40 – Bihar, UP, Jharkand,West Bengal, Assam and MP to look at alternative design solutions to look at the gap. Integrated approach to school is a must

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Key recommendations of the 12th JRM for Civil Works Focus on school design – a range on suggestions to improve designs have been given. Alternative school designs should be created – there could be several across the state depending on local materials and requirement of schools. All school construction need to be designed keeping in view of the future requirements and possible expansion in next twenty years. Community engagement is vital to assess the current future needs of the school and the appropriate school, designs keeping in view the local architectural traditions

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA National consultation workshop on Whole School Development Planning (WSDP) Broad outcomes WSDP School’s built environment as ecosystem for learning Infrastructure plan to be alignment with Education plan – Integration of Hardware (infrastructure) with software (educational activities and outcome) Infrastructure design for long term educational perspective instead of short term goal

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA National workshop on WSDP WSDP to address children’s developmental needs and process of learning Children to be important stakeholders in the WSDP process. Future of educational transaction is going to be activity based. School to be designed with this view

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA National workshop on WSDP Focus on developing the entire school indoor and outdoor environment rather than just adding rooms Community’s traditional wisdom exhibited in vernacular architecture to be combined with latest knowledge and technologies to be used to develop school infrastructure

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Components of SSA Educational Infrastructure Existing and new Day schools Existing and new KGBV and other Residential schools Existing and new CRCs Existing and new BRCs

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Spatial components of a School All weather school building consisting of Classrooms - one for every teacher (RTE) –Library (can be combined with classrooms/HM room) Office cum Head Teacher room cum store cum teacher’s room (RTE) Corridors / veranda Courtyards Barrier free Steps / Ramps (RTE) Staircases Terraces

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Spatial components of a School Safe and adequate Drinking Water for all children (RTE) Hand wash MDM Kitchen [RTE] (Atleast 20 sqm per Kitchen upto 100 children with additional 4 sqm for every 100 children) and Store (+ space for eating can be combined with any other space) Urinals and Toilets (separately for girls and boys)RTE

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Spatial components of a School Outdoor space –Boundary or Fencing (RTE) –Gate –Pathways –Play ground (RTE) –Learning spaces –Garden

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Broad steps of the process Planning Design development W S D Plan approval Capacity Building Implementation

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Broad steps of the process Planning –Prioritizing WSDP components (Essential and optional) –Data from sites –Educational Data –Physical Data –Using data to identify issues and patterns –Creating stake of children in planning and maintaining –Norms for design development

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Broad steps of the process Design development –Vision of a school –Developing Deign brief –Children and teacher focused Physical requirement –Utilizing and recycling the existing infrastructure –Climatic comfort and solar passive design –Pedagogical use of indoor and outdoor space –Inclusiveness –Gender sensitivity

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Broad steps of the process Design development –School safety and hazard resistance –Cost-effective building systems –Scope for future expansion –Community based design development –Prioritizing –Developing WSDP for school

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Broad steps of the process Whole School Development Plan approval –Design approval –Estimation and costing –Prioritizing and Phasing –Convergence –AWP & B –Sanctioning

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Broad steps of the process Capacity Building –VEC / SMC level –Cluster level –Block level –District level –State level

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Broad steps of the process Implementation –Management –Convergence –Funds flow –Accounting –Site specific construction –Supervision –Certification –Monitoring and review

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Preparing Action Plan It is important for each State / UT to develop its own Action Plan covering these steps towards defining the Desired Status, with a base of Current Status, locate the Key gaps with Action Proposed, in a practical Time line and fixing Responsibilities for necessary action.

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Critical questions for discussion What can be the Plan to implement WSDP in your State/UT/District/Block? What enabling conditions will be needed at State/ UT, District, Block, Cluster, School? (Guidelines, policy, funds, etc.)

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Critical questions for discussion Who all should be involved (e.g. other SSA units) at different levels and why? How the school designs shall be developed – modifying the existing and making new ones? What collaborations will be needed for developing hazard resistant designs, green buildings, cost effective technologies?

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Critical questions for discussion What kind of systemic structure will be needed at State/ UT, District, Block, Cluster, School level for planning, design development, capacity building, implementation, supervision and monitoring?

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Critical questions for discussion What type of resource material will be needed at State/ UT, District, Block, Cluster, School level? What should the Guidelines / resource material contain? Should it be different for urban/rural/existing/ new schools?

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Critical questions for discussion What kind of capacity / skill will be needed at State/ UT, District, Block, Cluster, School level? What are the effective ways to develop it, and develop it fast ? What time frame will be needed to do this?

Discussions in 20th CW review meeting of SSA Critical questions for discussion Which bottle-necks / problems need to be addressed in your State / UT?