And Education for All

The Eighth Plan witnessed two major initiatives in the form of the district primary education programme and the nutrition support to primary education (mid-day meals) with a view to addressing the problem of equity, access retention and quality of primary education.

Taking lessons from the weaknesses in the previous plan, the 9th Plan is committed to achieve the average of 100 million adults by 1998-99 under the National Literary Mission and a larger goal of making the nation literate by 2005. Around 6 per cent of the GDP will be earmarked for the education sector by 2000 and 50 per cent of that will be spent on primary education. Substantial funds will also be allocated for technical education and vocational skills.

On the higher education front, the 9th Plan will have a major initiative in the form of diversification of curricula to provide skill-training through well-structured vocational courses.

In a major department from the past, the 9th Plan focus will be on building policies in those sectors in which detailed planning is done, fixing up common set of targets for the country with the priorities of each state determined in accordance with local circumstances.