GUIDANCE AND COUNCILING IN INDIA INITIATIVES UNDER RASHTRIYA MADHYAMIK SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (RMSA)

Education is a crucial factor for the quality of the life of an individual as well as the quality of the growth of an economy. Ever since independence, however, the focus of educational programmes in India was concentrated on elementary education. As the constitutional commitment is free and compulsory education to all children up to the age fourteen, all efforts were focused on achieving the goal of universal elementary education. Secondary education had never been in the focus and all the activities were concentrated on elementary education. Secondary Education is a crucial stage in the educational hierarchy as it prepares the students for higher education and also for the world of work. Classes IX and X constitute the secondary stage, whereas classes XI and XII are designated as the higher secondary stage. The normal age group of the children in secondary classes is 14-16 whereas it is 16-18 for higher secondary classes. The rigor of the secondary and higher secondary stage, enables Indian students to compete successfully for education and for jobs globally. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to strengthen this stage by providing greater access and also by improving quality in a significant way. The population of the age group 14-18 was 8.55 crore in 2001 as per census data. The estimated population of this age group as on 1.3.2005 was 9.48 crore, which is likely to increase to 9.69 crore as on 1.3.2007 i.e., at the beginning of the 11th Five Year Plan. This is likely to stabilize at around 9.70 crore in 2011. It inter-alia requires provision of educational needs, physical infrastructure, human resource, academic inputs and effective monitoring of implementation of the programmes.