Leveraging information systems to improve secondary education in India

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by Government of India to enhance equitable access and improve quality of secondary education in India. This paper discussed the small yet... [ view full abstract ]

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by Government of India to enhance equitable access and improve quality of secondary education in India. This paper discussed the small yet catalytic role played by RMSA in improvement of secondary education sector financed largely (~90%) by state governments as a sustainable learning system. RMSA provides strategic support (systems, resources) to states to create and manage enabling environment for schools and ultimately for learners to succeed.
This paper also demonstrates use of need-based planning and resourcing to achieve these objectives. Decentralised planning from school level is envisioned as a key feature of this system resulting in robust district and state plans using evidence from Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE). U-DISE collects information on many parameters of students, teachers, infrastructure and management, from around 1.5 million schools annually.
Access to this rich database is facilitated by an easy-to-use, dynamic, web-based system called ‘U-Analyse’ which presents information in a variety of pre-determined infographics (charts, dashboards, thematic maps) as well as user-defined reports. Capacity of stakeholders at district, state and national level was built simultaneously to analyse indicators, look at trends, undertake comparisons, probe for associations, interpret and use this data as evidence for effective planning.
Shared transparency, timely communication and accuracy of information through introduction of web-based reporting and monitoring system for tracking physical and financial progress of implementation as key to efficient management of resources and decision making is also discussed in the paper.