Capacity Building Program
School Management Committees (SMC) have been made mandatory for schools under the RTE Act of 2009. This is constituted in all elementary schools in the State to ensure the community and parents are involved in bringing schools quality education at an affordable price. Under the provisions notified by the Government of Bihar, an SMC is comprised of a 17-member committee which includes parents, teachers, a PRI member, student representatives, local SHG representatives and donors. It was thought that this all-inclusive School Management Committee would provide pro-active support in improving the infrastructural and academic environment in schools. To make members aware about their roles and responsibilities, they were being trained under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Various secondary and primary sources indicate that in some schools SMCs were able to bring qualitative improvement through their efforts, but overall the performance of SMCs was far from satisfactory. This was most pronounced in terms of establishing the accountability of teachers in improving the teaching and learning environment in schools.
Taking the above into consideration, under the World Bank sponsored programme of Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness in Bihar Operation, the component of SMC strengthening has been included. Under DLI 4 of the PAD document, 10 percent of SMC members are to be trained in school management and monitoring.Taking the above into consideration, under the World Bank sponsored programme of Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness in Bihar Operation, the component of SMC strengthening has been included. Under DLI 4 of the PAD document, 10 percent of SMC members are to be trained in school management and monitoring.
To make this possible, Bihar Government hired an agency who supported in development of three-day module. It is expected that this module would able to enthuse SMC member to take up the responsibility of school improvement for the larger interest of children enrolled. This module includes the mobile app, which is based on a traffic light monitoring system. This three-light-based system will enable the members of SMCs to monitor the school performance on a regular real time basis.
To make this possible, Bihar Government hired an agency who supported in development of three-day module. It is expected that this module would able to enthuse SMC member to take up the responsibility of school improvement for the larger interest of children enrolled. This module includes the mobile app, which is based on a traffic light monitoring system. This three-light-based system will enable the members of SMCs to monitor the school performance on a regular real time basis.
